The decision by the government to have a four-week parliamentary recess is another faux pas, in terms of public relations.

The general public has still not forgiven the government for the honoraria issue – perhaps not so much that an increase was given, but the way in which it was done. On top of that, the general public is still angry about having to shoulder ever increasing burdens, and perceives that politicians (not all) do not give value for money – especially if one looks at their attendance record in the House.

What the government did not understand is that in taking this decision, it is perceived as being weak, if not even cowardly. We will explain. Whatever the reason for taking such an extended break over Easter, many people believe that it is simply because the government is afraid of facing vote-taking procedures in Parliament.

This may not be the case at all; it could just be that politicians want an extended break – but that too is an issue. We cannot have a situation where the government keeps on pushing people to be more productive and work harder, and then go and take a four-week recess over Easter – it just doesn’t work like that and people have every right to be angry about it.

The Opposition has labelled this decision as scandalous, but we will have to point out that their own stance is hypocritical, because the 1997 Labour government did exactly the same thing – a four-week Easter recess.

Sadly, politicians in Malta have not realised that the people and the media are much more savvy than they used to be in the past. They cannot continue to just try and pass things off as they do. Surely, the government must realise that a four-week ‘holiday’ was going to be interpreted this way. Also, the Opposition must surely realise that someone would remember that their party in government had done exactly the same thing.

Parliament is the highest institution of the land, and we, the general public, are constantly reminded of this. But Parliament is also the House of Representatives. These same representatives are elected to office to represent their constituents, the vast majority of whom want ‘value for money’.

No one is begrudging the representatives a short break, however, a four-week break is just absolutely over the top. If the government is actually worried about taking a vote, then it should just lay the gauntlet down and get on with it. The same government spoke of the need for stability, but in giving the impression that it is afraid of putting its majority to the test, it is doing the exact opposite.

It is one of two: The government is either afraid of taking a vote, which will have to happen at some point or another; or it is just out of touch and just not in tune with what people expect from it. Either way, it is very poor form.