We all knew it was going to happen. Many are crying foul over the way MPs have been given parking spaces round the back of the Palace, in Merchants Street. The main bone of contention is that cars should simply not be in a pedestrian area and with this, we agree.

It simply does not make sense to pedestrianise an area and then allow cars to park there. In Joe Public’s mind, the fact that the parking spaces have been created for MPs equates with favouritism. Let us explain. In the ordinary citizen’s view (who is anyone to argue against public opinion), creating these parking spaces reinforces the attitude that MPs believe themselves, and their needs, to be above those of the people. In effect, the new system will create just as much uproar as when a government or minister’s car is parked on a double yellow line, or when a politician jumps to the front of a queue – say at the Cirkewwa ferry point.

The arguments are all correct, but the argument by ministers in that they need somewhere to park their cars is also valid. And that is where our mentality is completely skewed. Why can’t our politicians take a leaf out of the book of foreign politicians and walk to parliament. That’s right; walk.

We keep talking about the need to cut down on use of cars and to promote healthy lifestyles, so we ask the question again… what is wrong with walking to parliament? Of course we do not expect some of them to walk from the other end of the island – the Prime Minister, for example. But what is wrong with parking outside Valletta and walking down Republic or Merchants Street? First of all, it is a chance to meet the public; secondly, it would cut down a little on each politician’s carbon footprint and it is also healthy.

For ministers it is even easier. They are all allocated a car and driver, so why can’t they just be dropped off and picked up? In the day of smartphones and SMS, it is very easy to tell someone to come and pick you up in five minutes.

For the backbenchers and the opposition, it is a bit different as they use their own vehicles and drive themselves to Valletta. One might argue that they can be given a job-lot of parking vouchers at the pay car-parks, but firstly, they will not want to pay it and secondly, in this economic climate it is just not on to bill the taxpayer.

The solution would have been simple. We know the government argues that less cars should be in Valletta, but that argument is already redundant in terms of leading by example because there has already been a decision to allocate parking spaces behind the Palace right in the heart of the Capital.

So, why shouldn’t they park, like everyone else, in the spaces around Valletta? There is plenty of space in the evening, and there is no charge at that time, so why not? Why not use the park and ride system?

The answer is simple: We get told not to rely on our cars too much, but the truth is that the attitude permeates so deep, that even our politicians are car addicts. Without wanting to cause offence, the primary reason behind this is laziness. Not laziness in one’s work or attitude towards parliament, but a general laziness that makes us get into our cars to post a letter 100 metres down the road. One sincerely hopes that with the new parliament building, some form of provision will be made.