The Labour Party will do this afternoon what it knows best – hold a demonstration. Why it feels it has to do so escapes me, unless there is a threat to democracy that I have not heard about.

There was a time when public protests and mass meetings were a common occurrence. But, in those days, such manifestations were justified.

They were being held against a Labour government that did not have the backing of the majority. They were being held against a Labour government that was ruling with an iron fist. They were being held against a Labour government that wanted to close down Church schools. They were being held against a Labour government that did nothing – and this is a euphemism – to control ruthless thugs who were causing so much trouble.

They were being held because violence had become the order of the day, and no half-hearted apology – if Joseph Muscat’s was an apology, after all – will wipe away the memories of that dark period of Maltese history.

No, those days should not be forgotten, as some are suggesting, perhaps because they are among those who cheered when Eddie Fenech Adami’s home was ransacked. Those who do not remember them should be told over and over again that there was a time when the Opposition Leader’s name was not even mentioned on the national broadcasting station, just to mention one thing. These days, Joseph Muscat gets a mention even when he sneezes.

Which is what he will get after he walks and waves, smiles and grins, shakes hands and takes babies in his arms, in a sea of red that will take over Zabbar for what is yet another show of force to please the militants within the party.

But, the thing is, whereas diehard Labour supporters enjoy going to these meetings with their torca flags and gold-plated cpiepet to shout obscenities at the government, today’s demonstration will do nothing to attract the other Marisa Micallefs out there – come to think of it, I really cannot imagine her on stage with her new leader. Will she be there? Will she wear red too?

Such demonstrations are shunned by the floating voters, who will ultimately shift the balance one way or the other when it is time to vote; therefore Labour are shooting themselves in the foot on this one. You do not hold demonstrations when there is nothing to warrant such public manifestations.

What is perhaps worse is that the holding of such a demonstration is a significant admission that Labour does not have much to say. It’s as if they want to hide their lack of substance by making a bit of noise. And it’s a known fact that empty vessels make most sound.

When Joseph Muscat was elected party leader, he promised an earthquake of change. I was intrigued by this declaration, and really hoped that Labour would have become a valid alternative to a Nationalist Party that needs a rest from governing the country. But the more time passes, the more I am disappointed that Dr Muscat is not fulfilling what he set out to achieve.

The more he speaks the more he comes across as someone who has just one aim – to win the election, and he will do anything to win it. What will happen afterwards and how he will run the country does not seem to concern him. He just wants to become Prime Minister, at all costs, but he does not seem to have any idea of what to do once he takes the oath of office.

It is just a quest for power that Joseph Muscat has – nothing more, nothing less. And to achieve his ultimate aim he is adopting an approach that verges on the deceptive.

Just listen to him and judge for yourselves whether he ever gave any indication on what he will do after the election. He has never come up with an alternative; he has never come up with a solution; he has never come up with a proposal. All he does is cling to the straws that could take him to Castile.

It is like an obsession. And, as we all know, obsessions are dangerous, because obsessed people will go to great lengths, even beyond the limits, to reach their goal. When, soon after taking over the party leadership, he had said he wanted to be Prime Minister at age 39, I had thought it was just ambition. A year and a half later, ambition is too mild a word. It is an obsession.

It would be more heartening, to say the least, if Joseph Muscat were to dedicate even parts of his public addresses to tell us what his intentions are if and when he walks up those majestic steps as Malta’s next Prime Minister.

The people have a right to know what they will be in for if Labour takes over the country’s reins. As things stand now, the present government appears weak and unpopular but at least it has a sense of direction. It knows where it has come from, where it is and where it wants to take us.

Muscat does not seem to have an idea. All he is interested in is to win the next election. The rest does not matter.

As the saying goes, better the devil you know...

[email protected]