After that speech things started becoming clearer. The Nationalist Party is doing whatever it takes to stay in power. They are doing this for the wrong reasons and definitely not for the national interest. Many of those who dominate the PN have much to lose if their party goes to Opposition. I firmly believe that the country has much to win if the PN goes into the Opposition. In Malta the media plays a vital role. The PN knows that it cannot rely on their television and radio stations. As such they are putting their own people in the so called independent media and even worse in the national (sic) media especially in its news room and strategic positions.

This is clearly done since ministers and their acolytes are appointing and giving these key positions to people they trust and of course they are making sure that these serve their master which is the Nationalist Party. All this is being done in the name of democracy. However it seems that everything is done according to the law. It may be the case but of course those who do follow know that this is hindering democracy. Actions speak louder than words and it is suffice to watch the so called national television station to see that democracy is being hindered all the time.

We always pride ourselves that we have the structures to overlook these institutions. I wonder where the Broadcasting Authority is. Do they follow what is happening? I believe that they should do so not only when the news is not balanced or other programs even in a subtle way pass messages in favour of the current administration, but even in certain appointments which are hundred percent political appointments.

So the Nationalist Party not only has a dominant position because it is in government but also has a dominant position because they appointed media people in key positions to dominate the media too. Are these democratic credentials? According to me definitely not. This is another form of dictatorship. However the funny and curious thing is that the PN has the courage that in spite of all this it criticizes others. This was the case last week when in some way or another private emails between the Leader of the Opposition and another person were published by the media of the PN. This is another sign that people in Malta cannot have their mind at rest when they send emails or phone their relatives or friends. And mind you the Nationalist Party is trying to convince us that they are a European Party. Today they look more like the Communist Party of the Ex Soviet Union.

This is the only country in Europe where we have a situation where the media is against the Opposition rather than the Government. The media in a mysterious way finds more things to say against the Opposition of the day rather than on the Government. Very strange indeed. But no it is not strange since the media in Malta is being manoeuvred by the Dar Ċentrali in Pieta` and by the Office of the Prime Minister in Castile. We have also other people who are directly being paid for this purpose.

So this is democracy today in Malta. Of course those who are blindfolded or even worse have a lot to lose in the event of the PN loosing the next general election cannot agree with my analysis but I am afraid my analysis is correct.

Finally I beg the Archbishop of Malta to see what is happening in his own radio station and not to leave everything in the hands of a handful of people who everyone knows that their interest is the Nationalist Party. I say this out of love for the Church in Malta and out of admiration for the Archbishop himself.

In the meantime I hope that democracy in Malta is achieved again since in the last years we definitely lost it. I also augur that our neighbouring country Libya finds democracy now that their dictator is dead. In Malta we still have our own dictators.

Carmelo Abela is Labour Main Spokesperson for Social Policy

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