On the stroke of midnight, in line with the amicable agreement reached by the political parties, the 2013 general election campaign commenced. The Labour Party lost no time in embarking on its campaign by launching a press conference within seconds of the start of 7th January. Considering that this campaign will be one of the longest campaigns carried out in the last 25 years, one questions the underlying motive of such a decision. That the Labour Party was ready to go was not only imaginable but also expected. It is true that it has been in Opposition for the last 14 years but surely, it would or should have used its time wisely to prepare for the moment of truth.
Before starting a discussion on these campaigns, I think it is fit once again to heed an as yet unheard call to journalists who cover these campaign trails. All journalists have their own personal political ideology and the profession of journalist was surely not created by the Maltese for the Maltese. We are all exposed to foreign media and foreign campaigns are streamed live for all of us to follow. The heckling of Maltese politicians is not a trait that is witnessed abroad. Yes, there is hard talk, embarrassing questions are asked, critical observations are made and journalists insist they get answers to their questions; however the profession of a journalist has to be exercised with dignity and respect and a journalist’s personal political bias should be restrained and contained. In these first few days of this campaign, the way that a number of journalists have discharged their responsibilities is pitiful. They have once again sunk to depths the profession does not deserve. They should always remember that as with every other profession, it receives the respect it shows.
Is it still possible that local newsrooms believe that this approach by their journalists, which they must unofficially and tacitly approve as they have never condoned or corrected it, brings in votes for the political party they have at heart? I beg to differ. It encourages viewers to change channel. Such modus operandi suits only the converted or even more the obsessed, but it surely pushes Joe and Jessie Public further away from listening to their message.
They would be better off in investing time and resources in thoroughly-researched questions which make their members shine and put their political opponents on the line, than to fall victim to their political bias and make downright fools of themselves.
The campaigns of the two major political parties have both kicked off, albeit with different rhythms. The Labour Party hit the ground running with its flagship proposal − the reduction of water and electricity tariffs. This widely expected proposal has now been put under the national spotlight in the last couple of days and the Nationalist Party has raised a number of valid questions. The general public is being inundated with figures, statistics, interviews, debates, billboards and whatnot. However, the truth of the matter is that all Joe Public needs to understand is how and when this proposal will affect him and his family, if at all and if so, to what extent. For this to take place, all sides need to act maturely and make available all the information they possess for people to be able to make an informed choice. One further observation I deem fit to make concerns party spokespeople who answer questions with rhetorical answers, saying that such information will be divulged when the time is right; such answers are weak and speak more about those who utter them than about the subject in question. Is it possible in this day and age that the parties do not have a monitoring board to advise their spokespersons that such answers only undermine their credibility? Why put such persons at the forefront of the media if what they communicate is void of explanations and details on the matters under discussion?
The Labour Party has started its visits to all parts of the island, thereby exposing the party to many media opportunities, which in turn brings about the need for them to give more information about their electoral programme since otherwise, the discussion becomes repetitive and dull.
The Nationalist Party on the other hand launched its campaign with an internal rally and a general council, while continuing its activities under the now famous tent. Although it launched its manifesto, one awaits its electoral programme to be able to comment further.
The public debates have commenced, with Simon Busuttil taking on both Labour Party deputy leaders. Those of us who watched the debates have surely reached their own conclusions, although my personal comment is that a clear difference in debating styles has emerged (Need I say more?). Chris Cardona and Tonio Fenech have also battled it out on the first of a series of Broadcasting Authority debates. Many others are still to come over the next weeks.
The general election is just around the corner now and we will surely revisit the way it unfolds time and time again. Let us just remember that we are all Maltese and Gozitans at the end of the day and we will so remain after 9 March.