I am pretty sure that both sets of party strategists are rubbing their hands after the recent polls conducted and published by Malta Today.  From whichever angle you interpret the outcomes they might show favourable statistics for the two sides of the political spectrum.

On the one hand the Nationalists will see the closing in with the PL as a positive and will be tempted to sleep peacefully knowing that Joseph Muscat, the PL's trump card, is losing a bit of ground. 

In contrast, considering the booboos that this Government was to blame for and it being a mid-term poll by-and-large the PL can hang on to its peace of mind.

But if truth be told, I feel that both interpretations are far from comforting for a number of reasons. 

This poll only serves to surface the obvious as far as the main political parties are concerned.  In fact Dr Busuttil, much as he tries, is still struggling to make in-roads.  Although he has improved on his image and is taking on more of a leadership role he still doesn’t seem to be convincing enough amongst the electorate, especially the ‘undecided’.  Apart from that, the PN might be herding back some of its lost sheep but other than that it is still not being seen as an alternative especially bearing in mind that until now voters seem to have chosen the ‘leader’ more than the ‘Party’. 

On the other hand, people are starting to get used to Dr Joseph Muscat’s method.  His glint and freshness which has keyed up people might be losing its gloss.  The voting public is now more interested in ‘what he is saying’ rather than ‘how he is saying it’.  The spark and the glamour that crushed the Nationalists single-handedly not only once, but twice, three times seems to be fading away and the expectations of people on the Prime Minister’s ability to deal with the blows is being closely checked.  

The core loyal voters are still settled around their respective parties but the real deal remain the non-aligned voters who are devoted to what affects their quality of life.  These non-partisan voters more than ever will be at the fore-front of what Government we will have in less than three years time.  The strategists will only be wasting their breath if all they are concerned with is throwing the diesel bills at each other.  This might excite the loyalists but the rest, which probably tantamount to more than 55% of the voter base will be the ones who will make the difference, I believe, even more so in the forthcoming general election.

Most of these people are merely interested in having their standard of living safeguarded; the week’s holiday every year, the takeaway on a Saturday night, the ability to pay their bills, manage their loans, buy the essentials and have a decent meal every day.  Whichever Political Party manages to convince most in this respect will be rewarded. 

Elections will not be won by the overkill mantra that the PN has probably gone croaky shouting out; that every single member of the cabinet, their staff and appointees must resign.

Elections will not be won with fancy back-drops and snazzy photo shoots. 

People are able to see through all of this as they saw through the bike-ride of the leader of the Opposition (accompanied by his assistants in a car) during the Car Free day or his photo-shoot with his beautiful Golden Retriever Jipsie.  The same applies to the ‘piano at the edge of the cliff’ installment.  This silken Americanization of politics does not do much to our voters.  Our electorate are far more intelligent than that.  They are interested in their family’s well-being and having a decent quality of life.  Maltese and Gozitans want to work hard and play hard. 

If the PN is to have a credible chance in this election, they need to push forward their best elements.  Having Simon Busuttil as the focal-point is too big a risk as he is still perceived by many as lacking grit.  Adding to that he is linked to the old guard.  If the Nationalist Party manages to push forward the collective rather than playing the personality cult it will give them a courteous chance.  

A risk I feel the PN is taking is that the agenda is being set by the Government and the PN is simply reacting.  In fact the PN whether it is the environmental agenda or governance always seems to be acting in response to something that is happening rather than being an agenda setter as one would expect an Opposition to be.  Not that the PN shouldn’t be countering and opposing the Government’s policies when they are lacking sense but that on its own is not good enough.  People so far see a trailing Opposition. 

On the other hand the Government has such a messed up communications strategy.  Little, if any focus, has been dedicated to the varied successes  enjoyed by the minorities in our community; the disability sector, IVF, adoption, the Youth Sector, child care, co-education, civil rights of the LGBTi community and the list can go on.  Alas you hardly hear anything about these issues apart from an ill-timed end-of-the-year message that should have been more of a ‘go get yourself a piece of Christmas log’ than all that banter. 

I also think that the Prime Minister needs to do what he is best at, communicating, connecting and exchanging ideas.  He needs to peel off this aura of sumptuousness because I know for a fact that the Prime Minister is interested in what is happening at an individual level, wants the country to progress and craves to see changes that were left pending far too long. 

He inherited a country that was doing well economically, had a sense of stability and the reassurance that people can get on with life. But it is also true that in terms of governability and the mechanisms that are there to take the country forward were stuck in a rut.  All was heavy and long winded and the bureaucracy was simply crazy.  People had to struggle for everything – it was all uphill. 

This Prime Minister is taking a gamble at trying to turn things quickly.  It is a risk because when things are done speedily the chance of slip-ups increase dramatically especially because of the vultures that hover and are ready to pounce on power and money.  So if the Prime Minister manages to strengthen the systems that help him operate, have a more slick and less lustrous communication strategy, does away with some of those massive bodyguards that look grouchy and unhappy, I think the Prime Minister will regain lost ground and will be an immensely difficult obstacle to overcome.

Having said that, as the old adage goes, ‘a week is a long time in politics’. 

“So there you go dear politicians.  You have an enormous responsibility to do what is good for us.  You have been granted the privilege by the People to make our lives better – it’s what you should be about, nothing more, nothing less.”