Canvassing and campaigning is no walk in the park. Persuading people, listening attentively, addressing grievances of all sorts, while pushing forward their agenda and that of their party is a technique and a virtue which when nurtured and polished will achieve the desired results to prospective candidates.
Saturday will bring to an end the daily efforts of the last weeks during which political parties and their respective candidates worked, and will continue to do so, till midnight Thursday. Most of the candidates wisely made use of the social media and other means of mass communication to push forward their agenda. Making their presence felt at public events and other activities, including house visits, remained an integral part of the electioneering strategies of most candidates.
Letter boxes are littered with the campaigners’ printed leaflets of all sizes, shape, colour and form. This is in addition to all sorts of leaflets that many households find daily in their post box. Too bad, I throw all unaddressed promotional material in the garbage bag.
What is new to the coming election is the cash-gift promise made by MEP Joseph Cuschieri. Mr. Cuschieri promised to donate €186,000which is half of his income in the coming five years if he is re-elected to the EU Parliament. In my opinion this initiative should be seriously looked into. It is unbecoming and an unfair qualifier which puts at a disadvantage all other candidates across party lines. This may also discourageyoung, valid people with limited financial resources from entering into the political arena. This promise mayalso lead to corrupt practices and bea threat to democracy. On this issue I will rest my case for the time being. Lawyers and other experts in the field may take up the debate.
Election results’ analysts claim that, for the very first time, the PN is well positioned to secure its third seat in the EU Parliament in the coming MEPs’ election. The million euro question which remains to be answered is the difference in the number of votes between the major political parties. Whatever the outcome, the result will be used as a measuring stick on the performance of the two main parties. I am not too sure whether I share this view entirely.
Thoughboth the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have taken on their respective roles and responsibilities rather recently, they will nonetheless be directly andindirectly held accountable for their party performance.
The narrowing of the wide gap between the PL’s and the PN’s vote in the last election, and the gain of the third seat in the EU Parliament will strengthenthe PN leadership and will stop all rumours and speculations about the qualities, or lack of them, of the team. While I can notice that the party is gradually transforming itself into a broad-based organisation, frankly I feel that the leadership of the party should show that they are incharge. Demonstrating the leadership’s capabilities and qualities has,as yet, not been extensively unleashed. This should bring aboutadded-value to the party with a national strong alternative plan which should be economically viable and socially just.
On the Government side, during the past months, one may have decided to turn a blind eye and excuse the rushed decisions taken. However, certain issues could well be an eye opener. People have noticed, and others experienced first-hand, that the ‘end justifies the means’ policy runs counter to the rule of law.
I will refer to some cases. The recent appointment of the disgracedtill recently MEP hopeful as a“soldier of steel” to the PL folds raised eyebrows. The secretly signed agreement with Shanghai Electric left many speechless. The IIP agreement with Henley and Partners remains veiled with too many imponderables. Evidently under pressure, the PM is continuously dishing out different statements on precarious employment, leaving service providers breathless to catchup and their workers in the dark as to what exactly is being promised.
Government may be allowed a number of shortcomings, but there is no elbow room for gross mistakes. The coming MEPs’ election comes relatively early in this legislature and people have an opportunity to make their voices heard. If people fail to do so, whether a PN or PL supporter, government will not change course, more likely than not becoming bolder in taking even more dubious decisions.
Good governance, meritocracy, transparency and accountability were the PL’s electoral promises which caught the imagination and inspired the largest segment ever of the electorate in the last general election. Clearly these promises are not being demonstrated.
Next Saturday people can convey a strong message with their vote to the administration. Apart from demonstrating clearly their disapproval to the bullish executive style that this administration has adopted, the electorate has an opportunity to choose who is best suitable to represent Malta in the EU Parliament. The European Union project needs valid contributions and great efforts from Malta.
GejtuVella
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