Carmelo Abela (TMID, ‘Parliamentary democracy’, 7 May) should read other contributors’ take on democracy of Parliament and hopefully will clear his and Joseph’s head at the same time.

In order for the Labour Party to ensure Parliamentary democracy, it should form a panel headed perhaps by Alex Sciberras Trigona, members Karmenu Vella, Leo Brincat, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (token female) and others from the 1971-1987 era and produce a formula which will ensure ‘true’ Parliamentary democracy.

It is true that Parliament does not belong to the government, but reality is, Carmelo, that when a party is elected to govern, its agenda takes priority over the whims of the Opposition. Here again, he should draw on the experiences from the Socialist era. The 1981 election in particular, would be a textbook illustration of democracy at its best. Parliamentary democracy then, was running as smoothly as a Swiss watch. Maybe that’s where Dr Sant got the idea of Malta becoming the ‘Switzerland in the Mediterranean’.

Joe Martinelli

Canada