These elections delivered six Maltese members for the European Parliament. A small number compared to the hundreds of MEPs that constitute this massive institution. But one person is known to have changed the face of the earth so many times in the history of the world, that it’s much more comforting for me to put my hope in quality rather than in numbers.
These elections also delivered a verdict on the first year of Joseph Muscat's Moviment Laburista - Malta Taghna Lkoll - Government. They delivered their verdict on the Chinese deal with Enemalta, the reduction in utility tariffs, the citizenship scheme, the LNG tanker in Marsaxlokk, the clean sweep of the Civil Service, the appointments within the Armed Forces of Malta and the Police Force, the free childcare, the Civil Rights Bills, the new ODZ policy approach and all other issues which up to Saturday were controversial.
They have now received the clear seal of approval of the electorate. 80,000 people approved by their silence and abstentions and 53% of the rest approved them by their clear vote for Labour. Of course 47% of the electorate thought otherwise but that is what democracy is all about. We can debate and argue ourselves hoarse. The bottom line is that when the people speak or don’t speak by means of their vote, the result is what remains and what counts out of all the remonstrations, rhetoric and ingenious arguments that we make. When it comes to interpretation of results the use and gross abuse of power of incumbency, no matter how rife it is, will cast no doubt on the result.
It’s the numbers of valid votes cast which counts. It happened under PN rule and has happened now, and will probably keep on happening because the people have endorsed that too, in no uncertain terms by their voting or abstaining this time round, under PL rule for the first time after 25 years.
A year ago people voted and wished for real change in the way politics is done: More transparency, meritocracy, elimination of oligarchies, and so on and so forth. A year later the same electorate expressed itself again, resoundingly in favour of the type of change that the government has given the country so far, which is tantamount to saying that they have either given up on their dream of having better governance for their country, or that they have been convinced that by empowering the government more, their dream country will be more likely to materialise.
Whatever the reasons behind the electorate's verdict, it is a legitimate verdict and it is up to the PM and his government to use the power wisely and responsibly.
The electorate delivered a verdict on the small political parties which seem to be admired for their perseverance and sound arguments but, not enough to warrant the vote. It is a shame that these diverse groups seem to make hardly any headway in the local political scene.
And finally, the electorate passed a clear judgement on the Opposition. The message loud and clear by those who opted to vote, is that the New PN has not started to convince people enough to win back their trust again. It is true that PN seems to have exited the lethal vortex which had been sapping at its votes relentlessly. It is also true that over 80, 000 people did not vote and its no coincidence that the lowest turnout seemed to be in traditionally PN strongholds, indicating that even stalwart nationalists expect a better attitude from the New PN and will not budge until they get their political force where they want it to be in terms of strategy and approach.
Overall, the message is that PN has made no headway yet and the people are asking it to radically overhaul its tactics.
When one keeps in mind that its leader is the man who singlehandedly convinced the majority of the nation to vote in favour of EU accession and thus got us into the EU ten years ago, and that it is the same Simon Busuttil who got more than 68,000 personal votes in one such MEP election, it becomes obvious that his individual potential is there, but will only start giving results when a total shake up of the PN happens, when PN strategy departs permanently from negative territory and when his colleagues unite firmly behind him... there's no need to change emblems and party names...
A good dose of positivity will suffice, but whatever has to be done, needs to be done quickly because Malta has never been so much in need of a strong constructive opposition as it is now.... .after all, according to quite a few clever men (or probably their wives)... Power corrupts, while absolute power corrupts absolutely... And I do not think we want that... do we?