I believe that what we are experiencing in our political scenario at this point in time is close to unprecedented.  After the virtual walkover of the Nationalist Party in the last general election and the subsequent landslide victory of the Labour Party with some 36,000 votes confirmed only a year later during the MEP elections one would have imagined that we would see a new type of politics budding in this country, a political discourse constructed around community and individual needs.

Then again the way the state of affairs unraveled was unsurprising.

The Nationalist Party knew that the mellow ‘ejja nitkellmu’ style Dr Simon Busuttil tried to project was not reaping dividends and hardly leaving the desired effect on the electorate.  The believable tone of this politician, that proved so effective during the pre-EU accession debate and subsequent referendum, was hardly parting any advantageous impact. 

People ‘in the street’ were heard saying that Dr Simon Busuttil was too laid-back, overly soft spoken and barely reacting.  However after the second drubbing in almost a year at the MEP elections there seemed to be a shift in gear by the Nationalist Party.  This Party seemed to take umbrage at every move of the Government practically asking for the resignation of all the Cabinet at one point or other, most certainly an overkill.  What were previously sporadic forlorn attempts by Dr Jason Azzopardi, who seemed to be carrying the Opposition on his own for the first few months after the 2013 election, turned into an all hands on deck line of attack by the Opposition. 

The PN were starting to increment the pressure on Ministers and Parliamentary  Secretaries, Government advisors and those in public offices, some of whom ended up being removed or forced to resign.  The Nationalists piled pressure on a number of key Government appointments and a few thwarted, namely the Police Commissioners Peter Paul Zammit and Ray Zammit and mounted increasing pressure on several institutions.  The Government reacted and called the shots for the most part reacting by mounting a campaign depicting the Nationalist Party Leader as negative, pessimistic and unconstructive - a wrong move if you had to ask me, because it only helped to draw sympathy.  The Labour Party should know better how the demonizing campaign in relation to Dr Alfred Sant did not reap any benefits. 

As the surveys were beginning to show a shift back to the Nationalist Party, especially when it came to the switchers and the floaters, the party in government changed its game plan and took to trying to beat the PN to the punch. 

In fact these last months we have witnessed an unparalleled situation where both parties are literally thumping each other.  Even the 80s, which I recall very well, with all the violence that ensued did not feel like the country is splitting up and tribalising its political conversation so much.  It has become an eye-for-an-eye political scenario – no other way to describe it. 

This disturbing way of doing politics is not about politicians being questioned and checked, after all accountability is a must.  It is not about the fourth estate making sure it squeezes out the truth, yet again this is the duty of every media house, blogger or citizen journalist.  The sad situation is when it is simply all timed to be a blow-by-blow approach. 

Maybe the Nationalist Party knew that unless they manage to put the Government on the spot and create a sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’ there is little chance of making any inroads amongst the electorate, a maneuver that seems to be harvesting short-range results.  Not only that, I believe that the Labour Party and the Government, as I had predicted some months back in another piece was underestimating Dr Simon Busuttil and the repeated nuances that he is a softy and an easy target were becoming counter-productive.  This together with the innumerable booboos the government was to blame for have created a recipe of duplicity.

However, having said that, even though the Nationalist Party have made noteworthy inroads and somewhat closed the gap, at least that is what the surveys are indicating, many are still unsure if Dr Simon Busuttil has what it takes to get them to the home straight. I am not sure people as yet are convinced that Dr Busuttil has enough leadership in him to front the country, manage in times of crises and tackle day-to-day governance. 

It seems that so far Busuttil’s gains are more or less the government’s losses.  The initiatives that the PN has taken in terms of private member bills, policy documents on the ‘economy’ and ‘governance’ are not really convincing people.  Surveys clearly indicate that the Government gaffes have lifted the Opposition’s popularity.  While this is still a respectable indicator for the PN it also means that if the government manages to generate a feel-good factor, introduce measures that provide for more income for the families it would return its popularity.

One needs to appreciate that leaders of the opposing faction always gain because their adversaries lose ground, a fact written in our political history.  Many a times it is a question of how well you capitalize on the losses of your rival that propel you to government, much more than the program and vision the respective party might have, now more than ever that the major issues such as EU Membership have been sorted out by-and-large.

To tell you the honest truth, I really do not have a problem with political parties badgering around with strategy. Power is after all a contest that needs to be won.  What I cannot fathom is this aggression, this need to dig up stories that are intended to sow anger and propagate resentment and antagonism.  Maybe it is too much to ask from our politicians to be gluttons for punishment however we seem to be swinging far from the alternative. 

This crude way of going for the jugular should stop.  People, the voters, risk becoming estranged and if this mood starts creeping into our social composition there is a major risk that citizens will lose an interest in the way their communities are led and will not take their leaders seriously. 

Political parties would be myopic if they think that pushing your adversary repeatedly on the ropes will get you votes.  They might crop up for a moment or two but if truth be told and if politicians and strategists were to put their money where their mouth is, they will notice that people are starting to get bored with this bickering.  Interest in what politicians have to say is dwindling and the worse thing about this is the proverbial ‘throwing out the baby with the bath water’. 

The moment our nonsensical dialectic starts tainting the important debates and issues that need everyone’s efforts to be resolved, people will start carrying the brunt.  Out political landscape is not a picnic area where people can chase each other and throw ball until one of the teams is knocked out.  

My plea is undemanding.

Politics is about helping people resolve their issues, supporting individuals to reconnect with their communities, to give a voice to those in the backwoods and to furnish our country with the necessary tools so that when the going gets tough we can deal with it – in the long run, all the rest is rubbish.