Just as I set foot on the island, I do my best to switch back as quickly as possible to the local dimension. The majority refer to my travelling back and forth as fun, but I can assure you that doing it every week or so for five years does tend to taper the fun factor.

I got accustomed to switching from the corridors of the European parliament to my office in Valletta as though they were one. I enjoy coming back especially for the love of my country. The return is even more momentous when I would have an event like the one in Gozo last Saturday. After just missing the Gozo boat (apologies to the students!), I drove up to Victoria. I was asked to give a lecture to students at the recently inaugurated Skola Politika Fortunati Mizzi in Victoria. It was of great pleasure for me to share my knowledge and experiences with these students, Maltese and Gozitan, present. Although I went there to give the lecture, I too learnt from the feedback and the nature of the questions and discussion following the lecture.

To give you a brief account of this lecture, I described the way in which I speak of the European dimension with reference to local politics. There are two levels that describe local politics. First there is the institutional level, but there is also the individual level. I explained how I truly believe that these two different levels must be addressed and applied holistically. Only then can we apply the concept of the European dimension to local politics in sectors like the economy, the environment and education. It’s best I stop here, before I get carried away and end up going through the lecture again.

And talking of lectures and speeches, I feel obliged to refer to the speech I gave at the Nationalist Party Kunsill Generali on Sunday. I challenged, and I do so again, Dr Muscat to declare Independence Day as our national day.

A few days ago I read an article which quoted him speaking of political maturity. I can’t think of a choice of words other than black irony. A President from the opposition’s camp was chosen – I can’t really think of anything more politically mature than that. On the other hand, Joseph Muscat is trying to gain mileage from the registration and immigration issues, moves that help the country score no points on any level whatsoever. I referred to the Opposition Lader as a boy stamping his feet when he does not agree with something in my speech on Sunday.

There is a notion that a number of voters too will be stamping their feet, to take this metaphor a little further. Unfortunately, there were those who stamped their feet and protested in the European Parliament elections five years ago. As a direct consequence, Simon and I got elected, but with three elected from the Labour party.

The result, as a perfect tangible example, is that we now have Glenn Beddingfield instead of Joanna Drake as an MEP. Now I will not be the one to judge my Labour party colleague in the European parliament, I will leave that to the electorate. I can, however, judge Joanna Drake. She could have given a significant contribution, but the foot stamping exercise produced an eventuality which I believe, ultimately, was a loss, for you me and our country. The message I am attempting to communicate is this: it is vital we realise that what we may perceive as an indirect action is nothing but a direct consequence.

Thinking a protest vote is a direct action is wrong. It will, as history taught us, result in a direct consequence. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if you prefer a better representation, or to stamp your feet in a Joseph Muscat-style.

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP

[email protected]

www.davidcasa.eu