The death of Dom Mintoff added to the particularity of this summer.

This newspaper has already commented on the fact that the hotter months of the year were unusual in 2012 – simply because it is the last summer before the election.

Normally, politics and their importance falls a few notches in the priority list of the Maltese during the holiday season. But this year – and in all years right before the country goes to the polls – are exceptions to the rule.

The death of the former Labour leader continued to add to the political atmosphere in this particular summer. Mind you, the days in between his death on Monday night and his funeral last Saturday were not turned into political manifestations, and this was a great sign of maturity on the part of the people who attended the cortege on Thursday and the funeral two days ago.

But underneath it all it must be said that Mintoff’s death – unintended, of course – did raise political sentiment somewhat. The celebration of the political leader’s life brought back memories of his time as Labour Party leader and Labour Prime Minister. Many remembered all his achievements; many others remembered the hard times.

Mintoff played a monumental part in the history of the country between the end of the Second World War and the end of the century. His loss deprives the country of one of the major personalities in its history.

And this is why his death adds to the particularity of this summer we are living. Politics has not stopped this year. Parliament is in recess, but the two major political parties have sharpened their knives – metaphorically, of course – against each other in these past few weeks as they prepare for the final countdown towards the election.

Mintoff’s death has led to a further concentration on politics, although in a very indirect way. This past week has been a re-run of his life, what he did, what he didn’t do, what he could have done better, what goals he achieved. By doing so, the country has momentarily jumped back to the past, and the rekindling of Mintoff’s half a century of public life led to different considerations of his contribution to the country’s progress.

Now we must all return to the present-day. Mintoff will never be forgotten, but we must look ahead at the challenges we are facing today.