These days, all eyes are glued on the small screen.  Even those who do not normally watch football games have been caught in the World Cup frenzy and are bound to be found sitting in front of the television watching a football match.

Followers of the game have a football feast with three matches played every day since the tournament kicked off last week even though, I must admit, it is not easy to watch football games starting on the stroke of midnight unless, of course, your favourite team is playing.

Everyone would agree though, that the World Cup is a welcome break from the world of politics.  In fact very few, apart from us politicians, seem to be aware that Parliament is still sitting and laws are being amended or enacted.  Moreover, these days, newspaper front pages are more likely to feature reports and results of the previous days’ matches rather than statements delivered in the House.  Even in offices, other places of work, in cafes, shops and on the streets, the topic of discussion is not likely to be energy bills, the situation at Mater Dei or the Gas Power Station in Marsaxlokk but about the previous night’s football matches, the missed goals, the penalty that wasn’t or the performance of individual players. 

If you see two people arguing in the streets, rest assured that they are most likely to be discussing whether their favourite team deserved to win or not. And already there has been a lot to talk about especially with the surprise elimination from the tournament of the present World Cup champions, Spain.  I think that we are in for more surprises with more established national teams being kicked out of the tournament in the early stages.

This tournament is also helping us to overcome electoral fatigue which we have experienced in the last fifteen months.   Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat hit the nail on the head when he said that the Maltese people are experiencing electoral fatigue after two successive nation-wide elections; the general elections of 2013 and the European Parliament elections barely one year later.  Joseph Muscat’s statement hit a cord with newspaper editors, columnists and even with the general public with the majority supporting Dr. Muscat’s statement.

I am not privy to the inner circles of the Nationalist Party but I bet my last euro cent that when the Leader of the Opposition Dr. Simon Busuttil announced that he was going to stop making Sunday sermons he was taking the cue from Dr Muscat and jumping on the bandwagon of popular support for the Prime Minister’s reading of the situation in favour for less political dose. Dr Busuttil took this stand more out of convenience, to try and score political points, than out of conviction.  Others have said that he has stopped his Sunday Sermons because he has nothing new to talk about. I call such a stand petty mindedness.

Another of the Prime Minister’s recent statement s that would go a long way in addressing electoral fatigue is his view that Local Council elections should be held in conjunction with the European Parliament Elections in order to save people time and money.  I have already touched briefly on this subject in one of my previous contributions but, since then, there have been other pronouncements on this proposal, not least from the Nationalist Party who, it seems, are ready to go along with the idea but not immediately and definitely not starting from next year’s local council elections. 

At least the proposal is now on the table for discussion.  Government will definitely wait to hear what those interested have to say including all the political parties, local council’s association and the general public before taking a decision.  This has been our way of governing since taking office.  This is how we went about introducing the Citizenship by Investment Scheme and the civil unions legislation. We consult before we implement and enact.

Perhaps even I, in today’s contribution, should not have touched, even if briefly, on politics. The summer recess is soon with us but until then the government’s machine will keep on operating, maybe merely in the background for some and with less spotlight for others.  

In the meantime, we shall keep on enjoying the World Cup and may the best team win.

Dr Ian Borg is the Parliamentary Secretary for EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds