Now that we are heading back to the eighties at full speed, lowering the bar of our educational system is no surprise at all. Of course, this was never announced or made public. But there are some things you just can’t hide forever. And if instead of governing as you were elected to do, you’re busy selling off our country or giving it away like there is no tomorrow, something’s got to give.

Do you remember those 1980s dictators who insisted so much on governing their countries ‘democratically’ but through a socialist lens? They got bigger and fatter… and so did their pockets. Unfortunately, there are still a few around. Those of us who recall clearly what Malta and Europe were like 30 years ago will realise that I am not exaggerating.

The public image of how such leaders want us to see their country and the way they govern is very interesting indeed. They do all they can to manipulate our perception. One typical way is for these leaders to announce huge investments as a sign of trust. The message is simple: Once investors trust the leaders, then we should follow suit. Of course, there are investors and investors.

As I wrote previously in this space, the bigger the sum promised to the people, the more likely that people will believe it. Is anyone keeping a list of the millions Muscat has promised so far?

But it is not just the total sum itself which is incredible. It is also the projects themselves. Take the case of the “American University”. For some strange reason, this development MUST take place in an ODZ zone in the south.

Muscat seems to look up to, and hence emulate, the autocrat leaders who govern in the style of the eighties. There is the restricted circle of privileged cronies. There is the constant need for security and protection – in a country which was always considered to be safe… until he came to power and started using a conspicuous security detail.

It’s difficult to believe that all this security is meant as protection against the general public. So why is it there? Could it be a fear stemming from the not so pristine characters involved in the wheeling and dealing? Or maybe a fear of those who will not get their hands on the huge sums of money involved? Remember some of these characters may have already bought their passport and are now citizens of these islands.

At this point, Muscat has managed to create a real movement in our country. I don’t mean the fake movement built on fake promises and use of loads of public money to pay off the billboard Taghna Lkoll cronies. I’m referring to a popular movement which will not sit behind him on stage. It’s a movement of people who are increasingly disgusted by his Machiavellian ways.

Muscat should take this opportunity to revise his notes on the true meaning of a movement, which is usually for a common cause and for the common good. The movement which backed him in the last election was under the illusion that there was a common cause but, now that the common good is fast being disregarded, Muscat may have to rethink his projects and strategy.

As for the recent show of force in Marsascala at the PL event, the gathering included some characters from the eighties who made living on these islands a living hell. We are not impressed or amused.

From Eurovision to politics

I write this piece as I return to Malta from a conference in Vienna. It focused on the political and social aspect of the Eurovision Song Contest. The brainchild of Dr Dean Vuletic from the University of Vienna, the symposium was held at the European Parliament representation in the city and brought together scholars who have researched the segment of pop culture which we call Eurovision.

Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine were hot topics during the discussions as was the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993. As Ismeta Dervoz, the then head of delegation put it, “We wanted to say we are here.” Another good discussion revolved around the “Concita effect” on social behaviour, particularly LGBTI and diversity.

The symposium gave the Eurovision Song Contest a dimension which (to date) was only accessible to the academic sphere but which deserves to be explored further.