The European Parliament elections and those of the local councils wrapped up an intense and less than usual confrontational campaign between the competing parties. The undisputed victor was the Partit Laburista in both elections, having obtained two brilliant majorities that have not been registered in political history for quite a few decades. The Nationalist party bore the brunt of current general discontent in the country about the incumbent administration barely 15 months after it admirably scraped through the general elections test against all odds due to the resilience of the Prime Minister.

Labour’s victory wasn’t much of a surprise to the naked eye. The script was written by none other than Lawrence Gonzi himself whose policies since March 2008 are comparable to deadly weapons against good taste. They have not only scared middle of road voters from traditional nationalist stables but have urged nationalist grassroot voters to cross to the other side of the political fence. There can be no other way how to interpret the massive result garnered by Labour.

The big swing in voting trends was facilitated by Joseph Muscat’s fresh face, his moderating attitude towards politics and his fast maturisation in political warfare. Although I had never doubted his abilities to be a leader who could positively counter the more experienced Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Muscat’s output since his election as PL leader and Leader of the Opposition has been truly magnificent and far beyond my expectations and those of seasoned political observors.

Although the nationalist party had tried to rubbish and demonise Joseph Muscat before he was even elected as PL leader the strategy failed to stick as it used to do with Alfred Sant. The media warlords at Pieta have to re-think how to blur Joseph Muscat in the eyes of the electorate and it seems it will be a tough if not impossible job. So far it’s a situation vacant.

One of Labour’s greatest defects since 1996 has been its inability to capture the imagination of the middle class. At past European Parliament elections and local council ones, Labour had consistently won. But it was winning by default as, generally speaking, floaters and disgruntled nationalist voters stayed at home to signal their discontent. Indeed when it came to the crunch they felt insecure and could not trust Labour with the administration of the country.

Nationalist apologists are making the same argument after these last euro elections. But one fact they are inadvertently or otherwise missing is that middle of the roaders have made deep incursions into the other side of the carraigeway. Whether the swing was one out of conviction or just one out of mere curiosity is irrelevant. Joseph Muscat has put Labour on the long road to political rehab after years festering in the opposition. If so far he has merely managed to lure the middleclass into exploring his “progressive and moderate movement” then it is to his credit that it has happened. It hasn’t happened to this extent for a very long time, not even in 1996 at Alfred Sant’s charge.

It is also to his credit that Joseph Muscat has lured the middleclass through his own choice of candidates. It is not only principles and rhetoric that matter. The medium matters too. This time Labour presented a better mix of candidates. Most of them excited hardcore labour voters and helped to take out the Labour vote. But a fistful of other candidates doubtlessly appealed to moderate middleclass voters. Their appearance, tone and standing in civil society facilitated the passage of middleclass votes from PN to PL.

If Labour needs to make greater inroads in the middleclass for the general elections – and it surely does – then it must learn from the lessons it has taught itself in these euro elections. Labour cannot preach the virtues of a healthy diet by presenting a plate of junk food for its more intelligent listeners to eat. Labour cannot rely on just on its hardcore vote anymore, unless it wants to lose again at the day of the reckoning. It needs to project more vigorously and enthusiastically the moderate MPs and candidates it already has in its stables to help and facilitate the continual transition of votes from the middleclass.

DR GAVIN GULIA LL.D.

(Dr Gulia is the the Opposition’s Main Spokesman on the Economy and the Self-Employed)