That time of the year is approaching again, when the man walks self- consciously,carrying a brief case like a hunter with his illegal quarry in a bag and all the population are meant to stop what they are doing and listen to a  marathon monologue about vague ideas and try to decipher the wheat from the chaff.

After last year’s agony inducing boredom budget speech from the Minister of Finance, this year, Mario De Marco, deputy leader and shadow Minister for Finance, has presented a pre-budget document in the hope that some worthwhile debate may come of the exercise of the budget, a chance to steer the country in a more consistent direction and to offer ideas and proposals that could generate an improvement to the vital sectors of the economy and the country.  It is also about sustainability.

Naturally the machine for the labour party has rejected the document as negative and the PN as not knowing what is going on around them, or something of the sort.  This is the stereo-type statement that is issued by the ex Super One staff now residing at Castille.  Shoot first, check later.   And these were the ones in the past who spoke of the arrogance of the PN. 

The pre-budget document picks up from where the PN left off, before 2013.  It works not only as a basis for ideas and discussion, but presents the arguments in a non-political and non-partisan way which isquiteconcrete.  We are used to hearing most arguments as if they were a sheep dressed in a frilly frock.  Here we receive an objective opinion with sensible critique and serious topics backed up by figures and reports.

One topic which seems to have received the Cinderella treatment is, strangely enough, that of Health.  With all the disdain and all the problems facing this sector, it will be a major issue in the next election and beyond.  Serious long-term plans need to be put in place before it turns to chaos.  It is like the immigration crises for Europe. 

First they thought they could leave it at the door of the border countries, then it was on their doorstep and they realised the enormity of the problem.   Incidentally, what has become of the Diabetes initiative begun by the PN just before leaving government?  Now they recommend attention to the Obesity concern and that is good but the Diabetes initiative was an important one. 

With this document De Marco and his team have consolidated a number of ideas to go forward and some rescue for recent blunders by the current administration.  It serves too as a first platform for the launching of the much-awaited policies to emerge from the focus groups, hopefully by the end of the year.  Certainly, the sooner the better as the need for a strong opposition is really critical at this stage.  Not only for the sake of the economy but above all for freedom and democracy and the protection of the Constitution, national security, valued institutions and sound strategy.

It has been a while since we have seen the PN move on from the basics of getting their house in order and on to objective projects and discussions.  The work of the opposition has been ongoing, with so many matters of national concern to handle, as they went from denouncing perceived corruption and shady business within the government, the struggle against secrecy when still waiting for the very important contracts of the power station and transport, parliamentary questions which receive empty replies if at all, doubtful agreements such as the fuel hedging agreements with Azerbaijan and a daily list of similar topics.  But the time was imminent for a formulation of what the PN is thinking of for the future of Malta and Gozo and how to secure the work done during the 25 years of their legislation is not trampled upon completely and turned into a two-headed monster.

The PN have much to offer and to do but they should learn from the past, and not heap too much at one go on people’s plates.  It may be an excess of enthusiasm or ambition or genuine desire to lead, or over compensating, but often less is more.  Take the recent changes made to Net TV – not the investment in HD which I leave for the professionals to know best about -  but the re-styling of programmes such as Newsfeed which was a good viewing without being too demanding and always delivered good opinions and information on current affairs with a good choice of panel.  The new format seems to be over the top and the combination of so many segments is rather heavy and more suited to either a stand alone programme of some of the topics such as the Indri social segment or should be lightened up a bit.  The debate part actually made me wonder which station I was watching.  Again, more suited to its own programme at peak time or later.  The message, before, came across simply, clearly and quite impartially I have to say.  The same over-load should be avoided when drafting policies and strategy, and especially when in power.

With Labour you get one thing – sale of passports – and they run for 5 years with it.  With PN, instead, you get a dozen or more focus groups and a buffet which is getting cold as we wait.

Incidentally, no mention of this highly criticised issue – sale of citizenship - was made in the media reports of the pre-budget document and I will need to scout the full document to see if there is reference to it but this too seems oddly absent.  In the light of the current focus on the failings at Identity Malta, one would expect even more reference to this area and what should happen about it.

As envy struts its glory on government benches and dissenters are passed on from Pilate to Herod, the resilience of the EU institution of which we form a part of, to act as a defence from intimidation and reverting to past deceptions, is really being tested.  After all the choice for joining the EU was not an easy-going one and as Dr Simon Busuttil himself can verify, a lot of hard work had to be put into the Yes vote.  But it may very well be the difference between the way things went for Malta pre-EU and post EU today.  Where will the people’s heart and mind rest? As the French say,

Le coeur à gauche, le portefeuille à droite.  But it seems that in Malta this has been turned on its head, leaving us only to guess as to what may strike the electorate.

25 years of hard work cannot and should not be sold or struck off at the whim of the leader who has a mandate to govern for the whole country but not to sell up our island, its shores and its land and invades our life with unwarranted strife.  Essential services too are causing grief as they fail to reach the electorate’s expectations.  The people will seek a way out of stress and poor service.  Sooner or later it will affect a majority of people.  The less complicated the answer, the better.