I wonder if Lawrence Gonzi is a superstitious man. If so, he would be forgiven for thinking that someone has cursed him with the evil eye.

Still reeling from the implications of the MEP results, and just when he thought nothing else could go wrong, what should happen next but a power cut which lasted all day? Then there was the bright spark who decided that it would be a good idea to go ahead with the launch of the scheme to collect our free energy saving bulbs the very next day after the blackout. (Is there someone sticking pins in a Gonzi voodoo doll or something?)

At least people kept their sense of humour as one-liners flew back and forth across cyber space (those who had Internet access thanks to the office generator that is). My favourite one, borrowed from Noel Grima’s now famous question to the Prime Minister, was “in office but without power”.

Others failed to see anything funny in it as shops and small enterprises were forced to send their employees home while industries and services across the country lost money.

While we await answers as to why the Marsa power station conked out like it did, every day brings with it more grim news. Tourist arrivals are down, there are rumblings of industrial action in every sector, and the ripple effect of a slowdown in business can be seen everywhere.

As economists had predicted, the recession is being felt in Malta about six months later than the rest of the world – but while people can understand that global problems are not within Malta’s control, they are frustrated by what they see as a government which has been paralysed by its own inaction on domestic issues. The overlying impression is of an administration that can’t get its priorities straight. It squanders money on shiny expensive buildings like Mater Dei but then doesn’t have enough funds for what really counts – such as for doctors and nurses who are shamefully overworked and underpaid.

An apple a day

When the extent of the PN defeat of 6 June hit home, I heard the same thing over and over again “we are going to listen to the people’s message”.

But while the Nationalist administration may have heard the “words” (and gloomily counted the loss of votes), it has still to grasp the underlying meaning. This was underlined again this week with the scolding announcement that the Maltese people do not eat enough fruit and vegetables. The reaction to this was swift and brutal: “does the government realise how expensive it is to purchase healthy food?”

It doesn’t help matters that our own Minister for Rural Affairs looks like he doesn’t eat enough fruit or vegetables himself.

Rather than a photo opportunity for the politician concerned and a glossy leaflet distributed to all households (which will probably end up in the bin), what people want are concrete measures to make their household budget stretch further. Sometimes all it takes is a gesture like that of Michelle Obama who used an area on the White House grounds to teach schoolchildren how to grow their own produce. This week, the children dug up all the vegetables, prepared a healthy salad in the White House kitchen and had a picnic.

Sure, you will tell me, it’s still a photo opportunity, but the symbolism it carried, of an administration that empathises with people’s concerns, goes deep.

You first

I think if people saw politicians leading by example, they would not feel so angry at the Gonzi administration.

If ministers got rid of their gas-guzzling cars, if they offered to pay for their own mobile, land line and Internet and made other cutbacks on their expenses, it would go a long way towards soothing the frazzled nerves of a nation that is finding it hard to keep its head above water as it swims in a sea of unpaid bills.

Oh, but I forgot – as Peppi is so fond of reminding us – politicians do what they do because it’s a “mission”.

He really should be a comedian.

Nice to know

So, according to Austin Gatt, who was speaking in Parliament, “the country is not run according to what is said on blogs (sic).”

This was in reaction to Gavin Gulia reading out all the comments from timesonline.com following Tuesday’s power cut.

Well, let me be the first to say, phew! There I was starting to think that all those claims that the government has become arrogant and cut off from the people were exaggerated, but then along comes dependable old Austin to reassure us that 74,000 people refusing to vote were right after all.

It’s how you play the game

I’m sitting here mulling over another perplexing question. With four years to go before the end of this legislature, why is the PN government so freaked out with the MEP election result?

Then it clicked.

The Labour Party (at least for the time being) is riding the crest of a euphoric wave as, for a change, it relishes a win. Winning at something gives you a winning mentality – it makes you believe you can do it again. The huge psychological boost to your confidence cannot be underestimated – ask any tennis player after he has beaten a formidable opponent. In order to win the next important match he needs to psych himself up, replay his winning moves in his mind and go over his winning strategy. A lot of it is a mind game, but it works. If the crowd in the stands is rooting for you, and is willing you to win, it’s even better.

Seen in this context, the worried brows of the PN are easier to comprehend.

Of course, it is very cynical to speak about who will govern the country in terms of game, set and match. I wish I could speak about politics in terms of a noble mission but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face.

Come back Fred, all is forgiven

You know things are going pretty bad for Gonzi & Co when they start holding up Alfred Sant as their yardstick. They are even saying things like “not even Alfred Sant would have done that…” and “Alfred Sant was right (gasp!) when he said…”

What is the world coming to, I ask you?

Power struggles

The reports of heated arguments over at Herbert Ganado Street keep leaking out and repeated rumours of a faction trying to oust the Prime Minister are becoming persistent.

The name Simon Busuttil keeps cropping up. Well, I suppose if you looked carefully behind that docile facade you could see the steely glint of cold ambition in his eyes.

I find this call to remove Gonzi from power eerily similar to calls to keep Alfred Sant out of government at all costs.

Alla hares jitla’ l-Labour (God forbid Labour gets in) has become Alla hares jibqa’ Gonzi (God forbid Gonzi stays on).

Back to the future?

The “violence in Zejtun” headline on Net News on Election Day filled everyone with dread. Here we go again, we all thought with dismay and sinking hearts. Well, not quite everyone – why do I get the impression that some people were rubbing their hands in glee?

The incident, in which a man with a charming nickname punched a Nationalist counting agent outside the polling station, was quickly brought under control and the man was charged. You would think that, because of its past history, the Labour Party would came off looking the worst after this punch-up. You’re wrong. The Nationalist Party in government has lost so much of its credibility that the comments I heard were laden with scepticism: “Oh you mean Net News just happened to find archived footage of Il-Qahbu just in time for the evening news?”

Despite a certain nostalgia for the music of that decade, most decent people do not want a return to the 80s. I genuinely hope that I’m wrong, but I get the nagging feeling that some Nationalists would relish a return to that era in order to prove some kind of sick point.

Black sheep

There are a lot of ingrates in this country – you know who I’m talking about, those Nationalist supporters who voted Labour. If you ask me, they should be made to wear a red star on their left forearm for easy identification.

Dr Michael Grech, who naughtily strayed from the fold and had the sheer nerve to endorse Louis Grech, has been the subject of much tarring and feathering. Some of the suggestions on what should be done to him have verged on the hysterical. My all time personal favourite was when someone suggested that his Daddy should write a letter of apology to the Prime Minister on his behalf.

I know – I fell off my chair laughing too.

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