We are currently faced with an unprecedented political sentiment.  It is true that, as Professor Oliver Friggieri consistently claimed, our political scenario is downright polarised and split.  We are essentially two tribes that intermingle but still hold on poignantly to ‘our’ colours.  All those who do not subscribe to this model are considered outcasts and pariahs. 

This time round after the 13 hours of fame, that our politicians enjoyed on Monday, I would describe our politics as turning into a pancake because it has all gone terribly flat at this point.  We keep seeing a political class that is more interested in strategy and at making sure that the moment those opposite throw a barmy at ‘us’ we chuck a bigger one at ‘them’ - this is as sad and as pathetic as it gets.  All the stories that are coming out of the hat don’t seem to have an expiry date – everyone is just ready to shove up a tittle-tattle because it is politically convenient to do so even more so ‘now’ that everybody is getting hot under the collar.  The irony of it all is that both sides of the penny are calling each other ‘deceitful’.  One accuses the other ‘he’ is immoral and has no right to govern and the other kicks up calling his counterpart debauched because of the alleged skeletons in the wardrobe.

How terribly heartrending!

Let me make this point clear, this Panamagate issue should have long been nipped at the bud.  If public outcry and civil society reaction is anything to go with the admirable action to take was the resignation of Minister Konrad Mizzi and Chief of Staff Keith Schembri for the greater good.  People do not just vote once every five years.  Our democracy is a participative one because it keeps engaging the public in-between elections.  Getting these two protagonists off the radar might have created some ripples but all would have died down weeks ago had the Prime Minister come out decisive.  The truth is that most of the Government’s energy is now being dissipated on damage control  whilst the administration of this country should remain focused on its core business, that of running the country honourably.  I disagree with the no-confidence vote presented by the Opposition against the Government becasue in my opinion it should have been a no-confidence vote in Minister Konrad Mizzi.  The other side of the story is that so much work is going unobserved.

Let’s face it, most people are essentially living a decent quality of life, unemployment is down, the economy keeps progressing, the health services are improving, the disability sector is recuperating in leaps and bounds, the property sector is in a good shape and the civil society agenda is being addressed like never before.  The commitment that the Government has given to ensure that civil rights are at the top most part of the agenda is reaping dividends.  However, all of this is melting like butter on a pancake because of people’s hard headedness.  As Minister Bartolo, and some others said, this is not about illegality anymore, in fact we might never get to the bottom of that part of the story.  This is about politicians’ behaviour that has gone rogue.  Politicians are not just there to meet up three times a week but to be a point of reference to the rest of the citizens.  To have integrity and to be a beacon of correctness is part of the job.  Citizens need to be inspired by their leaders and not suspicious of them.  The moment that doubt and wariness are thrown over a politician like a veil it all starts burning like dry bush in summer and the good goes up in flames with the bad.  If we do not want to turn our politics into a joke (more than we have done already) the time is ripe to stop all of this and focus on the matters we need to resolve.  This country needs to deal with some important issues and time is of the essence. 

We should be debating and finding solutions to a myriad of snags our communities face; dealing with criminality, focusing on absolute and relative poverty, improving our education product, ensuring the wellbeing of our animals, safeguarding our environment, supporting families who are struggling in all sorts of ways, enticing hard-up communities, resolving domestic violence, amending the child protection act, providing more timely resources to underprivileged populations, giving more resources to the Corradino Correctional Facilities especially the youth section at Imtahleb, affording more funds for the University and MCAST - need I go on?

There is an agenda we need to deal with.

Regretfully this is not the political scenario that I pledged to. 

Politicians know that wrongs will come to haunt them.  The power bestowed upon them by the people is there to serve (much as this may sound a cliché).  If they are responsible for an error of judgment they need to move away because it is always about decisions and if one does wrong with his own how can he or she be trusted with others people’s goods. 

I will not go on a tirade against Minster Konrad Mizzi.  If what the newspapers quoted Minister Mizzi as saying is correct, that is, "All I ask is that we don't entertain a trial by media” it shows that Minister Mizzi is out of synch once again.   ‘Dear Minister Mizzi what did you expect the media to do, clap?’ I think that with all the criticism that has been levelled at him he still remains one of the Ministers who performed which places additional responsibility on him.  He is also quoted as saying in Parliament;  "I regret that the Panama Papers distracted from the government's successes” essentially confirming that  he needs to take the principled thing to do and resign rather than wait for the PM to boot him out.  

Well I’m off to the Quadrangle – there is a stand there were they do nice pancakes – very close to my favourite coffee stall.