The recent death of Dom Mintoff has once again triggered a political discussion, especially among those of a certain age who remember the Mintoffian years of the seventies and eighties. What happened in Malta after his death confirms that this man will be remembered as the most controversial figure in Maltese modern political history. 

In my opinion, it is wrong to either sanctify or demonise the man because, like any other politician, Mintoff had both positive and negative traits. However, one has to separate Mintoff’s private life from his public persona and role in politics. It is his public persona that we are bound to criticize, because his role in Malta’s political history has, without doubt, left its mark on us who lived those days and on the generation that followed.

Mintoff was active in politics for just over half a century. His political behaviour was most of the time egocentric and defiant. But he had good intentions as well. His political career was always marked by what he himself used to call “battles”, the most famous being those he waged against Paul Boffa, Archbishop Michael Gonzi, the British government and Alfred Sant.

There is no doubt that Mintoff, as a politician, wanted to improve the situation of the Maltese people, especially those with little education and who looked to the government to provide their “manna”. But unfortunately, instead of reducing the difference in the level of social classes by elevating the working class, he lowered the level of those who enjoyed certain benefits. He took away the benefits of some in order to bring them down and reach his objective. He tried to appear as the Robin Hood of Malta by taking from the rich to give to the poor. Little did he realise that a new middle class was emerging that formed the larger part of the Maltese population. Most of the time, Mintoff’s policies adversely affected that same middle class which, in time, started to pledge its support to the Nationalist Party. 

There is no doubt that Mintoff influenced greatly not only the Malta Labour Party’s parliamentarians, delegates and members but all Labour supporters as well. He was an excellent speaker, able to persuade his followers. He was adored like a god by his followers but hated by those who were oppressed because they did not support his policies.

It is unfortunate that Mintoff’s obstinate ways turned him into a semi-dictator. He imposed on all Maltese not only his economic theories of deprivation, but also his socialist beliefs. His egocentrism always prevailed, such as when he changed Malta’s dignified coat of arms to a colourful “xemx bid-dgħajsa”, which he thought summarized what Malta had to offer to the visitor.

Under the slogan “Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox” (Malta first and foremost), he justified his actions to oppress those who did not agree with his policies. At the same time, he ensured that the morale of his supporters was kept high to guarantee his power. He also referred to his political adversaries as “l-għedewwa tal-ħaddiema” (the workers’ enemies). With this and other slogans such as “Nibnu Malta Soċjalista” (we will build a socialist Malta) and “Min mhux magħna kontra tagħna” (who is not with us is against us), which he used to utter during his speeches, Mintoff indirectly encouraged his supporters to oppress those who did not agree with his “socialist” views. These were complemented by scenes on TV of Labour MPs attacking Opposition members during televised debates in Parliament. The rest is history.

Those days are over thanks to the Nationalist Party and its fight to regain full freedom for our islands. Mintoff’s political persona is gone, but many of his followers, including ministers of his old Cabinet are still part of Joseph Muscat’s Labour Party today. They still have that same old mentality. Let’s learn from the past and not allow history to repeat itself. 

The past is the mirror of the future. It is only the Nationalist Party, backed by its track record, which could continue to guarantee Malta’s future in peace, economic prosperity and political respect as a tiny but very important state in the European Union.

Dr Rizzo Naudi is a PN candidate

on the 4th and 5th districts