The last few weeks, ever since the uprising in Libya followed what had taken place earlier in Tunisia and Egypt, the reputation of the Maltese government, especially of its leader Lawrence Gonzi, has gone up more than a notch at international level.
The way Malta rose to the occasion and dealt with the exodus of thousands of people from Libya, handling each and every arrival with the care and attention that was needed, has received plaudits from all around. By what it has done, Malta has gained more respect.
The efforts have not gone unnoticed. European and world leaders have praised the dedication, organisation and trouble-free management of a delicate situation. The crisis came upon Malta unexpectedly, but in spite of its limited resources, the country was able to overcome all hurdles. The reaction was immediate and efficient, and it showed that Malta can be, and is, well prepared for times of emergency.
It was said, and repeated, that Malta was a safe haven for all those who escaped from Libya, and that it acted like a nurse in the Mediterranean as it had done at various times throughout history. All those involved deserve merit.
Lawrence Gonzi’s leadership qualities also emerged in the way Malta tackled the developments on a political level. The government’s refusal to let the two Libyan Air Force planes that landed here be taken back, possibly to be used in air strikes against the Libyan people; its insistence on a purely humanitarian role for Malta and the way it stood its ground to seek assurances on sanctions imposed on Gaddafi are three examples of the strong position that Malta has taken.
Dr Gonzi refused to succumb to demands by Libya for the two aircraft to be released in exchange for the three Dutch soldiers who were being held in Libya. The Prime Minister did not waver under what must have been immense pressure. Malta is also standing firm on the position it has taken on the inevitability of the end of Gaddafi’s regime. It really is a case of small country, big balls.
The Opposition’s silence can be taken to mean an approval of what the government has been doing. The Labour Party, which was kept in the loop by the government immediately decisions were taken, has understood the delicate moment and, although it is not openly backing the government’s actions, its lack of criticism shows a kind of support that is rare in local politics.
Whether the surge in Gonzi’s international standing during the Libyan crisis is being translated into popularity on the home front is, however, doubtful.
History tells us that Winston Churchill won the war for Great Britain but lost the election in 1945, barely a few months after the defeat of Hitler. Although there is no comparison between what happened during World War II and what is happening today, and the circumstances and personalities involved are totally different, certain similarities can be drawn from the two situations.
While Winston Churchill was seen as the mastermind behind the defeat of Nazism, it was felt that he was not the right man to lead the country during peace time. And while there is no doubt that Gonzi is held in high esteem on the international platform, now more than ever in the wake of the Libya crisis, on the home front things may not be that rosy.
The Libyan uprising came right at the time when the government reached its third full year in office and Dr Gonzi celebrated his seventh year as PN leader and Prime Minister. We are still more or less two years away from the next election, but the next two years need to be flawless to give the PN the chance to hold on to the government seat. Winning a third consecutive term was hard enough, and to win a fourth in a row will be next to impossible. And the Nationalist Party is not making things easier for itself in the local scenario.
Too many mistakes have been made in these first three years, and the reverberations are still being felt.
The more recent cases are the parliamentary honoraria issue, which was badly handled from start to finish; the way in which Air Malta has been allowed to disintegrate, with little room left for manoeuvre in an attempt at recovery; the blaming of the increase in the price of energy on the Libyan crisis, when it had been previously announced that the government had bought fuel in advance; the BWSC issue, on which many grey areas that favour Labour remain; the intransigent position that the PN has taken, and continues to sustain, against divorce, making it appear insensitive to the needs of minorities while holding hands with the Church; the arrogance of people close to the PM, with power going to their heads to the extent that, apart from thinking they are God’s gift to local politics, they try to ruin all those who come between them and more power; Gonzi’s inability to hold on to the reins as, time and again, he has been cornered by members of his own team.
These are all issues that have dented the government’s credibility. I doubt that, in terms of popularity, they can be counter-balanced by Malta’s strong performance on the international front in recent weeks because, ultimately, people always look within, and foreign policy does not count for much compared with the bread-and-butter issues.
While Libya, at least for the time being, will continue to take up much of the government’s time and efforts, it is national issues that will sway the balance one way or another when voting takes place.
Take a look around you and you will see a Malta that has been transformed over the last few years. Visually, it is a much better place in which to live today. But are people leading a better life than they did not so long ago? It’s not the gardens, fountains and open spaces that persuade people to vote one way or the other; it’s the money they have in their pockets – the so-called ‘feel-good factor’.
From London, Washington and Brussels, Gonzi has received pats on the back and wide smiles for what tiny Malta has managed to do in the Libyan crisis. It does not mean that it will be easier for him and his colleagues to get the number one preference from Marsaxlokk, Mellieha and Munxar.
Still, the last few weeks have shown that Malta, despite its small size and limited power, can rise to the occasion. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has been impeccable in the Libyan crisis. He needs to be impeccable for the next two years to take the PN to victory once again.
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