It is difficult to find, in the last few years, a more deflated politician than outgoing PN leader Lawrence Gonzi. Perhaps Nicolas Sarkozy in France. Perhaps Mario Monti and Pier Luigi Bersani in Italy. Gordon Brown in the UK? In times of defeat it is not in any way nice to watch previously successful politicians fading away like distant stars in a moonlit sky, but that is how it goes in the nitty-gritty of modern day politics. Comeback kids are a very rare breed, here represented over several decades by just two – Mintoff and Fenech Adami.

Lawrence Gonzi has, however, received from the local media a rather more than usual measure of attention since his electoral debacle last March. The reason could be his assumption of parliamentary duties as Leader of the Opposition while his party goes through the throes of selecting a successor, no easy task given the four wannabes all carry some sort of baggage.

The former Prime Minister has not, sadly, been too magnanimous in defeat, despite the opportunities accorded to him by the new Labour administration, such as his joining the high-level Maltese delegation to the inauguration of the newly-elected Pope Francis at the Vatican, and the joint official tribute to the Freedom Day monument in Birgu, the first time such a thing occurred on a national day. On other occasions and in the case of previous prime ministers, the outgoing Premier, now representing the minority, would simply have been left to rue his fortunes at the polls.

But not Joseph Muscat. He promised a new way of doing politics and, just a few weeks from his epoch-making electoral victory, he’s been showing that he intends to keep his word, which is why we had that “united front” made up of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of Opposition representing the Maltese people in Rome and Birgu last month.

In his various exchanges with the media since 10 March, Gonzi has shifted from arrogant mode (“Gozo is ours”, “On Saturday we vote, on Sunday we celebrate”, “We won’t let Labour take over”) to apologist. Even in his admitting to administrative blunders and gross political gaffes, he has preferred to refrain from conceding that he was leading a group of ministers leashed to puppet strings of what became popularly known as ‘The Oligarchy’.

Instead, he has chosen to persist in defending both ex-ministers and puppeteers – the chief culprits for the PN’s awful showing in the 10 March general election. This makes his swan song not only kind of strange, but rather more sour and unpleasant.

Political analysis apart, however, there can be only a genuine and unified feeling of sympathy with and support for Dr Gonzi as he faces the physical problems he revealed in a recent interview. Health and fellow human concern matter a lot more than our daily digestion of petty politics.

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Maltese programmes in Oz

It is good to learn that the Special Broadcasting Services (SBS) management in Australia has cracked and finally relented under the pressure of the massive protest registered – collectively and individually – by the Maltese community there against the severe cuts in the number of Maltese language programmes announced earlier.

Readers may, but possibly not, remember my piece from Melbourne in this same column last December about the general resentment that the SBS decision to axe two thirds of the Maltese programming had triggered off in the various Maltese communities in Australia, particularly Melbourne and Sydney.

I know Maltese-Australian friends of mine who actually got in touch with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Senator Stephen Conroy and the SBS management duo of Mandy Wicks and John Ebeid to hammer home the need for a rethink of the slashing process. 

Nobody denies that the size of the Maltese-language speaking population in Australia has been shrinking over the past 50 years, as second, third and now even fourth generation Maltese grow up speaking only English. It is, however, as much a reality as the fact that the exaggerated cuts could easily be interpreted as unfairly punishing the Maltese community’s successful integration with Aussie everyday life.

We are not talking of a total withdrawal. The new SBS schedule will now include four Maltese language programmes when it was first decided to slash the previous amount – nine – to just two. It is not a pyrrhic victory for the Maltese communities as it happily gives a respite to thousands of old folks from Malta and Gozo, most of them in homes for the elderly, hospitals and other institutions, who can now continue to listen to programmes in their native language.

It is so ironic, however, to know that they are getting this deserved privilege when their one and only nationwide Maltese Language newspaper, “The Maltese Herald”, has just folded up after 51 years.

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On a politician’s death

I happen to strongly believe in one showing respect to a politician who has just passed away, even if he or she happens to have had principles and employed methods you’ve always hated. If we cannot be gracious on such sad and sobering occasions, I can see why the politics of hate continue to pollute our lives.

A case in point is the recent demise of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The funeral expenses and the argument as to who should foot the bill aside, the Iron Lady’s death provoked an incredible exchange of public emotions, for and against her memory. While it is fair enough to discuss recognised achievements and major fiascos, the holding of public celebrations and the manifestation of tasteless posters and streamers were, to my mind, completely condemnable.

It is true that when the hot issue of the introduction of the hated Poll Tax (to replace the old council rates system) came up under Thatcher, her henchman Nicholas Ridley had summed up the Tory Party’s attitude towards ordinary working people by declaring: “Why should a duke pay more than a dustman?” But both Thatcher and her party eventually paid for that horrendously unjust tax they proposed. She had to sneak out of No.10 and the Tories went into rapid decline.

That is the political machine working. When it is back to everyone being human, whether one is living or inevitably dying, then it is time for respect. I think, except for one or two isolated voices, in Malta we have always risen to the occasion with both major parties at different instances respectfully giving State funerals to former adversaries.

That’s how it should always be.

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General erection

I was amused to read recently that in the Argentine province of Santa Fe are seriously considering giving out free Viagra pills to males with erectile dysfunction at a time when we are still considering the issue of free pills to people suffering from dementia, promised by the previous administration.

As the old Beach Boys song goes, wouldn’t it be nice to imitate the Argentinians and, like the citizens of Santa Fe, assure a general erection? For the cynics, though, no personal need...