The presidential election in the United States of America was followed with great interest by many in every part of the world. Every election is important but this in particular, electing the president of the US, is of utmost importance since this has an impact also on what happens on the global scene. The policies and direction of both the internal and external issues adopted by the new administration will be followed since these will affect the rest of the world.

After eight years of a Republican President in the person of George W Bush, now it is the turn of a Democrat to occupy this post for the coming four years. Not only, but in electing Barack Obama as their president, the US citizens made history since he is the first black president. The colour should not matter but more than this I think that the US voters elected a charismatic guy who at the age of 47 years managed to convince the absolute majority of Americans about the need for change. Americans answered in great numbers to this message and voted for the candidate who they thought will bring change in their own country and even outside.

This contrasts with the local scenario of just eight months ago. We had our own elections where the Maltese for just a few hundreds of votes did not vote for change but for the status quo which now is manifesting itself once again especially after the budget presented for next year.

Returning to the US elections, one must admire the speeches made by Obama and McCain a few minutes after the result was showing a landslide victory for the Democratic candidate. In my opinion Senator McCain’s speech deserves a special mention since he was the one who was defeated.

The words which Senator McCain said seemed sincere and touching at the same time. He also stopped those in front of him who booed when he mentioned the name of president-elect Barack Obama. Not only did he congratulate him; he also urged all Americans who supported him (McCain) to offer their next president good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge differences and help restore prosperity, defend security in a dangerous world and to leave a stronger and better country to everyone, especially to the children and grand children.

Not only; but he concluded his speech by wishing Godspeed to the man who was his former opponent and who will be his president. I don’t think that McCain’s speech was rhetoric; he spoke from the bottom of his heart.

The speech of the president-elect, which was rubber stamped as “This is your victory”, was no less interesting and emotional as that of senator McCain’s. Apart from the nice words addressed to Senator McCain and a word of thanks to all, his speech was a speech of hope, even in times of difficulty, and a speech of national unity. One sentence struck me in particular.

“Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.” I feel that in the circumstances, this makes sense both nationally and internationally. But perhaps the most touching moments in his speech were the faces of the common people gathered in front of Obama to celebrate change. Those present represented all Americans and their eyes and smiles reflected happiness and hope in their new elected president.

However, it seems that this feel good factor is also spread in most of the world. Barack Obama is seen as a sign of hope and of a new beginning. He represents change in the right direction. Maybe we can say that at least for the coming months we will live in an Obama mania. Of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating and from 20 January he will be judged on his actions. I wish him and his administration every success.

People were deceived once again

Just eight months passed from the general election and the first budget of this legislature was presented. Without playing with words I say that the Maltese people were once again deceived by the Nationalist Party in government. The promises made are now being forgotten and almost the opposite is being proposed and done. This is very unfair on us Maltese.

In this case history repeats itself because we passed through this in the past and the Nationalists are experts in deceiving people through promises which they know they cannot keep while promising a vision for the future without saying how we will arrive there. Just one comparison to confirm this, is last year’s budget speech and this year’s. The tone is very different and excuses are being sought for the current situation. One thing is certain, the government is not keeping its promises and the budget is not what the people expected after the triumphalistic speeches of just eight months ago.

Carmelo Abela is Deputy Speaker and Opposition’s main spokesman for industry and foreign investment

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