The phrase that recently entered Maltese political discourse uttered by a new bunch of image-conscious politicians of little substance has turned the tables. It is now a public outcry that has come back to haunt the original accuser and his clique. The Panama connection was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The people have been conned
These new bunch are not even able to keep a gentleman’s agreement let alone implement the solemn promises made. The people were promised inclusion, meritocracy, transparency and good governance. Instead they have been handed a corrupt oligarchy. They have been conned.
No wonder that Labour is losing its majority so swiftly. In just three years, the Labour government has not only lost one of its most energetic Member of Parliament Marlene Farrugia, but according to recent surveys it has also lost 10 per cent of its core vote. They no longer recognise their party. A party taken over by fat cats can hardly be called a Labour Party let alone act truly like one.
Tony Zarb fit for purpose
The people were already fed up with the Café Premier, Old Mint Street, Zonqor Point and the Algerian visas corruption scandals that this government has become embroiled in, but with the revelation of Panamagate all limits have been surpassed.
It is a pity that Tony Zarb is no longer around. He would have been very fit for purpose chanting his ‘issa daqshekk’ mantra. Of course the same Labour propaganda machine that used to make mountains out of molehills when Labour was in Opposition is still with us, except that it has been re-dimensioned to work in reverse mode and makes molehills out of mountains.
Labour’s propaganda keeps constantly reminding people of what allegedly happened under previous PN administrations, but as The Malta Independent of last Friday said, “there is simply no comparison; not just regarding the gravity but also because at no point was there any hint of any collusion between any perpetrators and the top authorities of the country”.
And to that one might add that while the Gonzi administration was sometimes over-zealous when it came to taking action against alleged corruption, Labour was at the same time welcoming to its fold those whom it had itself previously accused of corruption. The writing was on the wall.
Labour’s distraction therapy
Distraction therapy helps a person cope with a painful procedure by taking his mind off it and making him concentrate on something else. Joseph’s Labour Party is master of this therapy. One day it comes up with the decriminalisation of the vilification of religion, another day with the issue of Conversion Therapy, and when nothing works it comes up with the gay marriage proposal out of the blues. It stops at nothing to distract people’s minds away from the very painful truth of a very corrupt government.
This is sheer disregard for all those fighting corruption, religious freedom as well as those fighting for equality rights. Manipulating people is both disrespectful and at the same time undemocratic. The only problem is that unlike conversion therapy, Labour’s distraction therapy is not banned by law.
Today I will join the march on Castille to show disgust at the corruption and Labour’s distraction therapy.