Spring is associated with the budding of nature after the dormant, cold and rainy months of winter

Just at the end of May and prior to the scorching heat of summer, GonziPN pompously launched a sparkling and sublime contest of being the Prime Minister for a day.

According to official sources at Dar Ċentrali, this superb initiative was to give the opportunity to people from all walks of life to shadow the prime minister and experience the challenges he deals with on that particular day. A tawdry publicity stunt in attempt to depict Lawrence Gonzi as a jolly down-to-earth person and a true gentleman. By the way the winner got an ipad3! Ironically, it is only now that GonziPN deems it is the right time to engage with the public and seek ideas.

Naive

If the strategists roaming the corridors at tal-Pietà really believe that by launching this absurd contest they erased the image of a Prime Minister who has been battling with prominent members of his backbench, then they are really naïve. The brassy slogan of pair of strong hands before last election has now resulted in a weak Prime Minister who has lost control over his parliamentary group.

A Prime Minister who is being persistently accused by members of his own parliamentary group of being led by a clique forming part of an oligarchy and of political apartheid. Distant from the glamour of a fantastic contest, our people are more concerned how the present political instability is affecting their lives and how the prime minister who is in a stalemate position is now engaged in an intense attempt to extend time before facing the inevitable.

PM for the country

Our people are not that gullible or can be easily taken for a ride by those who believe can alienate them from the real problems our country is facing. Our country urgently requires, not a prime minister for a day, but a premier together with a strong parliamentary group who are committed and capable to deal with the real problems of our country.

Instead of wasting our peoples’ time by an inane contest that leads only to a surreal situation, the vast majority of the Maltese are looking ahead for a real Prime Minister, embarking on ambitious projects that generate jobs and economic stability, protecting the environment, implementing sound proposals in the educational and health sectors and in putting into action policies that alleviate the standard of living of our people.

GonziPN is a government in suspended animation reducing parliament to a mere talkshow avoiding any voting not to be ‘surprised’ once again by any of his backbench. The meltdown is evident and the fated has been written on the wall months ago, no matter how intentionally they engage in trifling exercises to give the impression that it is all business as usual!

There is no more time for virtual reality. Gone are the days when government unveils so many simulated computer-generated scenes and artist’s impressions of mega projects which either never materialised or are being resuscitated now simply because we are on the eve of another election. This is the politics of yesterday where the wrapping is more important than the gist or content.

Committed

Particular Labour policies and initiatives have already been made public. Within the coming days, weeks and months, more and more plans, policies, initiatives and projects will be announced for the benefit of our people.

The Labour Party is a serious alternative and committed to make the difference. We are not interested in would-be contests but in forming a real government that generates stability, prosperity and realises beneficial projects that will eventually lead our people in becoming a successful nation in Europe.