The first wave of our democratic development was the decades-long struggle to gain full sovereign rights as a people by establishing a Constitution, a Parliament, freedom of speech and expression and free elections. The second wave saw us mount the ladder of economic development and build a social welfare system to ensure more justice and fairness and social solidarity.

It is about time we started the third wave to ensure better governance of this country. This has been promised to us several times in the past but was never delivered. Mind you, some progress here and there was achieved but many citizens look askance at the political elites: when are we going to really become a modern, democratic state in the true meaning of the term?

With so many people exercising their right to vote – well above 93 per cent in national elections – one can be deceived into thinking that the Maltese are comfortable with the political system. But does it mean they like its politics?

I hoped that after the last election our leaders would open their eyes to the truth that the people want more than just a healthy economy. They want an end to arrogance and want more transparency, good and proper governance.

Labour achieved a stunning victory simply because people thought it would deliver the goods. Few understood or were aware of the various backroom deals that were taking place to buy support and which would eventually make a mockery of the key pledges in the Labour’s electoral manifesto.

So we are back to square one.

And if you think that I am exaggerating just look at a recent survey carried out by a local newspaper which shows that 64 per cent of the people do not believe the Ministers’ declarations of income are true. Or, take the other public opinion surveys, which show that the people trust the EU institutions more than they trust the national ones.

This situation has something to do with what Archbishop Cremona said in a homily on Independence Day: what is being done to strengthen the moral fibre of society, the social values, justice, honesty and solidarity?

In a secular society such as ours, it is shattering that such searching questions are asked only by prelates and churchmen.

But if we really wish to strengthen our country’s governance system and make the third wave happen we need to place ethical and governance issues at the centre of the political debate again.

Only good governance can help the economy move forward, provide the space for the most efficient utilization of our collective human and material resources and prod us to try to emulate our achievements.

Take a glance at the political scene today. We have a Nationalist Party that for its mistakes when in power suffered one of the severest thumping in electoral history. It has still to find its feet but it has enough time to help it return to its core values of transparency and solidarity.

Fresh blood, not only at its helm but also in the rest of its structures will certainly help it rediscover itself as a people’s party.

Then there is the national agenda – the independence and transparency of the institutions, a stable and impartial public broadcasting system, a public service for the public not vice versa, an end to nepotism, the establishment of truly autonomous authorities and agencies to shield the citizens from arbitrary rule, watchdogs to guard the watchdogs, the enhancement of true meritocracy and above all the stamping out of corruption.

With regard to the Labour Party in government one can safely say ‘Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino’. Ministerial improprieties, jobs to spouses, relatives and friends, mass decapitations of top officials in the armed forces, the police and the public service, filling up various public boards with party hacks, a takeover at public broadcasting, the slashing of funds to civil society, attempts to gag the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and above all a sense of denial that this is true. This most certainly does not augur that Labour will deliver on change.

In six months, the “Movement” and “Malta belongs to us all” have all but vanished into thin air. As Minister Evarist Bartolo once lamented publicly “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” – the more things change the more they remain the same! It has never been truer than for the Labour Party today.