There is no doubt that this President took a number of initiatives that were very much appreciated by the Maltese. Last Saturday, the President’s Forum met, this time round to discuss or rather start a structured discussion on constitutional reform. It was a very well-organised forum and the speeches gave food for thought

A number of points were raised by the speakers and also by the President himself. I believe that this discussion is very much needed to try and enhance our democracy and to have the correct checks and balances. They say that justice should not only be made but also seen. We can say this for democracy as well. Democracy needs to be seen and felt.

At times I feel that we live under an oligarchy and the fact that after an election the winner takes it all and everything is decided by the head of the government is more like a dictatorship rather than a true and lively democracy. This is just one example but there are plenty of others. The urgency for this discussion to take place is there but what about the timing now? We know that soon we will be entering an electoral campaign. Both political parties represented in Parliament will be more focused on the election rather than on the need for reforms. Moreover, even if the election is called towards the end of this legislature, from the tone that the GonziPN clan is using, it seems that the campaign has already started. The power of the incumbent party in government can already be felt and all the impossible things of few weeks ago are now possible. So much so for fiscal stability and political correctness.

One has to admire the effort that His Excellency the President is putting in to start these discussions and hopefully, this will lead to some changes. I must, at this point, mention the Select Committee (now defunct), that was set up under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to discuss and come up with suggestions to amend the constitution and relevant legislation such as the electoral and broadcasting legislations.

I used to attend and participate in this Select Committee in my previous role as Deputy Speaker. I must confess, now that this committee is not functioning anymore, that the meetings were distant from one another and the work was not productive for a number of reasons. When an idea or a paper was put forward, it would be leaked to the press. The meetings were being held on camera. Of course, one has every right to criticize the fact that the meetings occurred behind closed doors, but this was the agreement between the participating parties.

Unfortunately I am not so confident that the discussion on these changes will be so consistent and that change will happen in the near future. Not only do I feel that the country is already in electoral mode but also the political class, at least some or most of us, are still not mature enough to continue with this discussion.

Some of the statements uttered by the head of the government of GonziPN show that the administration will not allow a fair discussion to take place. Last week the Leader of the Opposition led a delegation to Libya and held a number of meetings with the Libyan Authorities. This was something that Joseph Muscat had every right to do and for Malta it was a plus. Not according to GonziPN and his acolytes, because the reaction was astonishing. The Prime Minister ‘told’ the Leader of the Opposition not to intervene and mess with Libya. What a silly comment, as if he has a prerogative on our foreign affairs and on what the Leader of the Opposition does. But the consequences of the Prime Minister’s comments do not allow for serious discussion to take place because of his attitude towards the Opposition. GonziPN does not only feel that Malta belongs to him as if he has a divine right to govern, but he also feels that he should decide for the Opposition as well. This attitude looks more like a dictator form of leadership rather than a democratic one. However, when one analyzes how this country is being run, one would soon understand why GonziPN thinks that the country belongs to them.

The need for change is more understood and felt, not only because the country is passing through some difficult times, but also because of the leadership of the current Prime Minister. The new style which he had promised in his first election as leader of the PN never materialised and one can say that he is much worse than his predecessor. I urge the Maltese not to be afraid of change because change will benefit all and the country too.

Carmelo Abela is Labour Main Spokesperson for Social Policy

[email protected]

There is no doubt that this President took a number of initiatives that were very much appreciated by the Maltese. Last Saturday, the President’s Forum met, this time round to discuss or rather start a structured discussion on constitutional reform. It was a very well-organised forum and the speeches gave food for thought

A number of points were raised by the speakers and also by the President himself. I believe that this discussion is very much needed to try and enhance our democracy and to have the correct checks and balances. They say that justice should not only be made but also seen. We can say this for democracy as well. Democracy needs to be seen and felt.

At times I feel that we live under an oligarchy and the fact that after an election the winner takes it all and everything is decided by the head of the government is more like a dictatorship rather than a true and lively democracy. This is just one example but there are plenty of others. The urgency for this discussion to take place is there but what about the timing now? We know that soon we will be entering an electoral campaign. Both political parties represented in Parliament will be more focused on the election rather than on the need for reforms. Moreover, even if the election is called towards the end of this legislature, from the tone that the GonziPN clan is using, it seems that the campaign has already started. The power of the incumbent party in government can already be felt and all the impossible things of few weeks ago are now possible. So much so for fiscal stability and political correctness.

One has to admire the effort that His Excellency the President is putting in to start these discussions and hopefully, this will lead to some changes. I must, at this point, mention the Select Committee (now defunct), that was set up under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to discuss and come up with suggestions to amend the constitution and relevant legislation such as the electoral and broadcasting legislations.

I used to attend and participate in this Select Committee in my previous role as Deputy Speaker. I must confess, now that this committee is not functioning anymore, that the meetings were distant from one another and the work was not productive for a number of reasons. When an idea or a paper was put forward, it would be leaked to the press. The meetings were being held on camera. Of course, one has every right to criticize the fact that the meetings occurred behind closed doors, but this was the agreement between the participating parties.

Unfortunately I am not so confident that the discussion on these changes will be so consistent and that change will happen in the near future. Not only do I feel that the country is already in electoral mode but also the political class, at least some or most of us, are still not mature enough to continue with this discussion.

Some of the statements uttered by the head of the government of GonziPN show that the administration will not allow a fair discussion to take place. Last week the Leader of the Opposition led a delegation to Libya and held a number of meetings with the Libyan Authorities. This was something that Joseph Muscat had every right to do and for Malta it was a plus. Not according to GonziPN and his acolytes, because the reaction was astonishing. The Prime Minister ‘told’ the Leader of the Opposition not to intervene and mess with Libya. What a silly comment, as if he has a prerogative on our foreign affairs and on what the Leader of the Opposition does. But the consequences of the Prime Minister’s comments do not allow for serious discussion to take place because of his attitude towards the Opposition. GonziPN does not only feel that Malta belongs to him as if he has a divine right to govern, but he also feels that he should decide for the Opposition as well. This attitude looks more like a dictator form of leadership rather than a democratic one. However, when one analyzes how this country is being run, one would soon understand why GonziPN thinks that the country belongs to them.

The need for change is more understood and felt, not only because the country is passing through some difficult times, but also because of the leadership of the current Prime Minister. The new style which he had promised in his first election as leader of the PN never materialised and one can say that he is much worse than his predecessor. I urge the Maltese not to be afraid of change because change will benefit all and the country too.

Carmelo Abela is Labour Main Spokesperson for Social Policy

[email protected]