It is very unfortunate that our dear prime minister has been taking decisions and positions that, to say the least, is utterly embarrassing.

First we had Muscat’s threat to send back immigrants who had just arrived in Malta from North Africa. In the process he insulted the EU commissioner responsible for immigration, Cecilia Malmström, asking her to take them to Sweden. Then he made a number of statements vis-à-vis the European Union, including his call for it to “wake up and smell the coffee”. He also threatened not to leave the room at the following summit unless the EU agreed on a plan to solve the whole irregular immigration issue. Like a naughty child who is scolded by an angry parent, Muscat had to then bite his tongue and return to Malta empty handed, despite his stamping of feet earlier.

Then we had the big mess created by Muscat’s “selling of passports” scheme that created a PR disaster for Malta. Hundreds of news portals and other media throughout the world commented on this, with news commentators and analysts making many snide remarks. Basically, all the good work that has been done in the past to promote Malta as a serious, trustworthy country was thrown out of the window by the Labour government. And now, the Finance Minister himself admitted at a meeting of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, that his party had acted in haste about this scheme, admitting that the scheme was a ‘mistake’. In a nutshell, he found it extremely difficult to defend a scheme his government was so defensive about only a few weeks ago.

And then we had our prime minister offering to organise CHOGM instead of Mauritius who had issues with Sri Lanka due to its lack of respect for human rights. Although organising this event just 10 years after it was held in Malta may seem like a good idea, the timing was definitely not good. I wonder how other countries, especially those who have democracy at heart, have interpreted this indecent proposal. Were we seen as a nation with a heart of stone?

One hopes that Muscat takes the opportunity of the Ukrainian president’s visit next week to convey a message of solidarity with the people of this country who have been deprived of an opportunity to have a closer cooperation with the EU following pressure by Russia. The Leader of the Opposition has already announced that he will meet President Yanukovych to convey such a message but will not be attending the concert and state dinner organised on this occasion. I agree with Dr Busuttil that even the visit itself is inopportune and does little to change the bad name our country has been getting of late.

A President for all

As Dr George Abela’s term in office approaches its end, rumours have started making the rounds as who will be nominated in his stead. A number of individuals, all coming from the Labour camp, have been mentioned. While it is understandable that after so many years in opposition the Labour government will be tempted to go for one of its own, Lawrence Gonzi’s choice has proved to be a winner with people.  Dr George Abela has been the ‘medicine’ this country needed in a polarised country. Although there were a couple of situations in these four-and-a-half years that might have dented his otherwise remarkable presidency, his sense of initiative, his affability, his ability to mobilise people will be remembered for many years to come. I am convinced that had he been given the opportunity to change things, Dr Abela would have changed them for the better the same way he did with the little power our system entrusts to its President.