These last few months have been tough for the Nationalist Party, a party in government that has had to contend with a number of unique challenges rarely seen in the last two decades or more. Particularly on the economic front, it has been four years of conspicuous changes and a continuous grapple with a global financial crisis that threatened to destabilise our delicate trade balances internally and abroad.
In the meantime, this government has not sat on its hands, having kick-started a number of outstanding reforms that could no longer be postponed. We have witnessed remarkable changes and reforms in many sectors, be they social, industrial or in ways of doing business. Clearly very little precious time has been lost as a string of legislative changes encouraged the country to move on and confront its needs and obligations. Of course, change brings about progress but sometimes, inevitably, also resentment. Yet by and large, many of these changes have been successfully digested although admittedly some problems could have been easily avoided.
It is very disappointing to observe that as this administration continues to sail the country through rough and choppy seas, the Opposition has continued on a remarkably staunch, intransigent partisan and populist strategy – a strategy of dissent that has culminated in the last few months with a series of opportunistic parliamentary motions designed specifically to destabilise the government.
The barrage of censure motions delivered during these last few months were clearly designed to deflect attention from the Labour Party – that has consistently displayed any lack of inventiveness, clarity of ideas or any workable proposals to meet our current challenges. Mud slinging remains the order of the day and probably more will be slung in the coming months.
The mise-en-scène and spilled crocodile tears of the Opposition have been part of a blatant but cleverly orchestrated strategy to gain advantage over its opponents’ weaknesses as my party faces an internal dissent probably never witnessed in its recent history. It would be foolhardy not to admit that this has created problems, as evidenced in a clogged parliamentary activity. Unfortunately, it is not business as usual!
In the space of a few weeks, this administration has seen an able minister fall on his sword in a very unsavoury way – a minister who has had to contend with many burning issues, not least our perennial problem with irregular and illegal immigration. Not much later we saw our permanent representative at the EU resign on exclusively trumped up charges after having served his appointment with vigour. Fourteen years of experience forged in delicate diplomacy and irreplaceable networking has been thrown down the drain – and this at a time when Malta can ill afford not to be super-prepared to negotiate with our European partners the 2013/2020 EU budget.
And yet all this had very little, if any, configuration in Labour’s plans. Alas, as its leader was once quoted as saying: “The end justifies the means”.
Let me be clear. I would never expect any Opposition to serve as a crutch for any government. I understand that an Opposition’s role and duty is to scrutinise and criticise the government’s actions and decisions. It is, after all, its moral obligation to remain vigilant and abreast of the country’s developments and to admonish any fouls committed by the government.
Clearly, no one expects not to honour and respect the highest institution of Parliament. Conversely, one expects and demands that Parliament is not to be exploited to serve partisan or, even worse, personal agendas. This is clearly wrong as all actions and decisions of Parliament should be served without fear or favour.
What are abundantly frustrating, however, are the incessant attacks from the Opposition benches to undermine the workings of this administration with the clear intent of destabilising the government. There has been very little consensus from Labour as it has forged dubious alliances in a frenzy to bring about an early election. Through this legislation, the Labour party has continued with a constant fishing expedition in the hope of permanently damaging this administration.
This style does not bode well in a political climate that is becoming increasingly intolerant and soured by prejudice, especially at a time when this country can ill afford any loss of collective collaboration. Furthermore, it speaks volumes of the approach an alternative Labour government will adopt, should it be elected in a few months’ time.
Once again, I underline the difficulties the Nationalist Party is currently enduring. These are complex and delicate times, and errors have been made. My party must address these with patience and determination, but without fear. No one ever said the political game was easy.
At the same time, all this should not diminish the merits of this party in government that has worked with unstoppable energy and enthusiasm to bring about a better quality of life for its citizens during its term in office. Whilst others remain unyielding and hell-bent on unconstructive criticism, it is to be hoped that this administration will remain focused on the real issues that are important to everyone. Amongst these real issues are the creation of work, education and a better health service for everyone. These are, after all, the real bread-and-butter issues that make or break the success of a term in office.
Finally, when the Prime Minister does go to the hustings, whenever that may be, it will be the electorate that will ultimately decide its future. As is often repeated by Lawrence Gonzi: “People will judge us on our actions rather than on our words”. All this should strengthen our resolve and confirm that, ultimately, the Nationalist Party has consistently worked for the good of its country and its people.
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