Speaking on the radio, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday said that the government did not listen enough to stakeholders in the Passport Scheme. Coincidentally – or not – the PN leader called for the Prime Minister to admit that mistakes had been made.

Even more ‘coincidentally’ both leaders gave the strongest hints yet that agreement on the controversial scheme is close. PM Muscat said that negotiations are in their final stages and that he remains optimistic till the end.

On the other hand, Simon Busuttil said that both sides are close to an agreement, but the government should accept the fact that the scheme was wrong.  He said the PN is willing to help draft a better scheme that would benefit the country without further harming its reputation.

So what do we take from all this? It is clear that significant changes have been agreed on in principle. The PN leader said that plans had been taken back to the drawing board, and that the PN was willing to offer its help. The PM, meanwhile, said that the government and opposition can agree on certain issues.

What is certain, is that the issue will be brought up in the next week or so, when people are concentrating on Christmas, and that the whole sorry affair can be forgotten for a while. We will not be told what, exactly, has been agreed on. Both parties have emerged as best they can. Both bloodied and bruised, but not out for the count. The opposition has helped force the issue and bring it back for re-evaluation. It is coming out of its shell and finding its confidence, as is its leader. But it cannot take all the credit, the real force behind the re-evaluation was the reaction from the general public to the scheme.

But as we said, it is not all dark. This government has started to build up a reputation of ploughing and not fully appreciating the consequences of its actions. In a way, it is behaving like what it used to call the bull in the China shop that was Austin Gatt – a minister who was often torn to shreds (and sometimes with good reason) by the Labour Party. But in this instance, it has saved face and emerges as best it can. With its nine-seat majority, Muscat could have pressed ahead – but he did not. He showed that while his government enjoys a huge majority, he is willing to listen. Late perhaps, but we all know the saying better late than never.

Interesting times lie ahead, that much is for sure. And this goes to show that behind the curtain on the stage, the real dances take place. No matter what situation arises, the political parties will dance and change their tune. This is, of course, what politics is all about. We have seen these things happen before, and their will continue to happen. But at the end of the day, we should seek solace in the fact that the whole issue was turned around by everyday people and that shows that we live in a healthy democracy. The government could have steamrolled on, the opposition could have shouted useless rhetoric. But neither did. They are reaching agreement – but they have milked all they can for their own reputations in the process.