Many enter the fray of politics to get filthy rich in the shortest time possible, and not for what should be the over-riding concern to serve the nation. They break the laws which they are supposed to protect and enforce and give the impression that what they are doing is the noblest deed.

The situation reminds me of those children who find themselves alone in a candy shop and, thinking they are not being watched, grab and eat as many sweets as possible, hiding the rest in their pockets. Sooner or later they are caught on CCTV and have to admit to their greediness.

This is the situation we are facing with most of the contemporary political class dipping their fingers into the unholy water of corruption.  Whether it is a blue-eyed boy or girl or a red-eyed one, the curse seems to be taking over the whole spectrum of politics and society as many take the cue and think that it is appropriate to grab as much as you can while the opportunity is there, even by the most unethical and unorthodox means.

This situation lambasts the whole of Malta’s highest institution and those who are genuinely there to truly serve all, irrespective of political inclination, end up being eyed with a certain degree of suspicion. The way things are going, it is difficult to trust anyone with power and responsibility for the country’s affairs.

It is sickening to watch the incessant mud-slinging and hitting below the belt as Members of Parliament shout, offend and accuse each other of corruption. Parliament is there for the affairs and house agenda to move forward and implement good governance and not, as the Speaker, Anglu Farrugia remarked, ‘Mela hawnhekk xi maqjel?’ (Is this a pig-sty?). We have hit rock bottom in what should be Malta’s highest and most democratic institution.

The list of people and cases from both main political parties is well known and endless – whether these scandals came out from the past legislature or not, the oil procurement scandal, the contract to buy the buses, investments undeclared by ex-Ministers, nefarious dealings and now Panamagate and resignations galore. Most of the truth exposing these scandals and corrupt practices is due to investigative journalism and thankfully as all the filth is uncovered. But the point is: can we trust the two main political parties to come out with clean hands as the Italians like to call it, ‘mani pulite’, or is this saga, as some call it, a daily soap opera played out on the social media, continue to take this country by storm?

Perhaps Emy Bezzina, who in my opinion is the man of the moment, is right in stating in his excellent TV programme ‘Parlament tal-Poplu’ that Malta needs a democratic alternative that will give a breath of fresh air to this country polluted and tainted with so many stories of scandals. Truly, the country needs men and women who are not only efficient leaders who deliver and protect the country’s assets and especially the outside development zones (ODZs), but men and women whose interest is to alleviate the hidden but now overt poverty which is rearing its ugly head and affecting scores of thousands of the population, while many parliamentarians get filthy rich and then ‘run away’ (resign) and vanish from the scene with a pile of cash to last them a lifetime and more.

We need real and honest and admirable gentlemen and ladies of substance, like Marlene Farrugia who stands up for what is right and not for what her party is supposed to stand for. People like Emy who is objective and calls a spade by its rightful name.