I was glad to learn that the fundraising marathon organized by the Dar tal-Providenza at Siggiewi succeeded in reaching the goals set for the activity. When I visited it during the first half of its duration, there were fears that targets would not be reached since the European Cup championship kept families glued to their TV sets to watch games.

Right from its inception, the Dar has been in the forefront of the national effort to provide citizens among us, having disabilities, with all access to the best available living conditions. In line with the ongoing developments in social technology, as a pioneer in this field, while improving and modernising over the years the delivery of its services, the Dar tal-Providenza remained faithful to its mission.

Still I always felt a bit ucomfortable in assessing its achievements, given that these still rely on “charity”. Some thirteen percent of its budget, so I was told, is supplied by the fundraising marathon. Why have we not organized our public finances in such a way that all of its budget is financed by funds from the collectivity?

***

A possible alliance?

Among the unintended consequences of Brexit, this could be one: the progressive introduction of an “alliance” between the UK and Turkey. Such a development could appear as strange, given the fear of a strong wave of Turkish immigration that was raised during the referendum, just held.

But both countries are NATO members. Both have or shall have economies that rank with the larger European ones -- and Turkey has the potential to become the largest economy of the continent. The two are at the periphery of Europe with economies that have complementarities between them.

Any agreement between the two would not have to cover the “four” freedoms which the EU is insisting on, at least up to now. Even on immigration, particular arrangements could still be made.

For both countries, collaboration would be a win-win situation; which would follow if the current trend continues by which Europeans are failing to act in good faith when they claim they are prepared to allow Turkey into the EU as a full member.

***

Rocard

I listened to the eulogies pronounced about Michel Rocard who died last weekend. They were merited. Even if he failed to make it to the French Presidency, his long career in the French and European left wing movement was distinguished by the intelligence and creativity he brought to the job when facing challenges and problems.

However, my best memories of Rocard go back to the sixties decade of the previous century. At the time, Rocard led a small party, the PSU, which projected a different model for democratic socialism.

It was based on the idea that firms should be “self-managed” by their workers and employees, while continuing to operate in a free market. Similar ideas were being championed by some, including left Catholics. However the PSU was the only political party to make it a main plank for its programme. Self management was conceived as a system that could avoid capitalist exploitation and the oppression of Soviet style communism while maintaining a competitive production system.

Today, the proposals Rocard made then sound utopist. Over the years, they were dropped. Still, it was a good thing that Rocard and his companions pushed them forward, as they did, with courage and commitment.