Over the past two weeks, the comment I passed on the slow puncture did its rounds all over Malta. The comment was linked to a possible vote of abstention in Parliament, as in fact happened.
That abstention led to a draw, and the Speaker’s casting vote was needed to break the tie. It is also correct that the Prime Minister moved to check the other three wheels of the Ferrari car that make up the Nationalist Party. The three other wheels are the parliamentary group, the executive committee and the PN general council. Without these three wheels he would have been weakened. After obtaining support from the executive and parliamentary group, what remains is the vote of the general council on 25 February. The rest of the month would probably be calmer than the last weeks, with no daily bulletins of changing positions. Probably it will be a bit of an anti climax after January’s flurry of events that rekindled partisan politics.
However, the fourth wheel is still on a slow puncture, and needs to be fixed. It seems that the slow puncture can be fixed. A slow puncture gives you prior notice of an impending problem and gives you the chance to prepare for your voyage, and may even last until you arrive at your destination. Some wheels, like those of my car, do not need to get changed, but literally only fixed. This is a similarity that offers food for thought.
For Malta, in these post-Fenech Adami years, we needed a commercial prime minister, as the economic situation meant practically a war on finances. These past years, especially these last four, have had all sorts of economic situations that warranted a prime minister like Lawrence Gonzi. In my opinion he is a commercial prime minister, one that was needed by Malta at this moment in time.
His handling beyond our shores was of a great comfort as he guided Malta into less turbulent waters, and he was acclaimed time and again over this achievement. It happens each time the EU holds a leaders’ summit, and it happened in the Libya crisis. He also has a knack to solve local matters when they fall into his lap. Of course his daily time is limited as any other human being’s, thus lack of concentration on domestic matters and the delegating of some priorities have maybe led him to have a perception of being let down.
The local scene is not worrying as we have been blessed with sound local banks and a good banking system, with government bonds that get oversubscribed in a few hours, unlike other countries. That is where the national check-up is done, and a good bill of health is regularly issued. Confirmation of this was the announcement this week that government stocks had been doubly oversubscribed once again.
Talking about health, I was extremely pleased that our Mater Dei Hospital is doing up to 119 operations per day. That is a huge credit to Minister Joe Cassar, and an example of how one should be close to the people. Minister Cassar takes a personal interest in the job.
When he deals with something and when he speaks to the person concerned, there is a solution offered, a way forward. However, somehow this does not go down the line. I am finding out, in my four years of continual and daily house visiting, that there are people wanting to reach out to the Nationalist Party, and may be doing so for the first time, and are finding it hard to do so.
Strange as it may be, there are people who may vote PN for the first time just because of the handling of the current situation.
The PM has also tackled the deplorable incidents of a few people attacking gays. All have a right to be what they are. Let that right never be taken away, even for one minute.
We have two options. The first is the PN, with whom you know where you are going. The other, the party-in-waiting, has offered us no programmes. Past disasters may be a mirror of the future. Taking part in TV programmes, I cannot help but notice the lack of information that Labour exponents give. Besides playing for the public acclaim, all they do is express their gloom and criticise the government just for the sake of it, without producing one ounce of a proposal.
They have the art of finding fault even in the good things done.
There is no reason why the Nationalist Party should not be reconfirmed in government, although it has its faults. People do see that where accountability and responsibility should be shouldered, this is put aside only to be put on the broad shoulders of the prime minister.
Labour did not manage to win its motion of no confidence. It could only manage a draw. So, when in your weakest you cannot lose, the signs are there to go out and win another election.
Mr Arrigo is parliamentary assistant in the Finance Ministry