Opposition and Nationalist Party leader Dr Simon Busuttil, will, this evening, address the crowds gathered at the Floriana Granaries to commemorate Malta’s Independence, the birth of our small nation, which Prime Minister Dr George Borg Olivier secured on 21 September 1964.  

Telegraphically put, in the past fifty-two years, Malta has weathered periods of political uncertainty, faced challenging times, experienced long terms of political stability and became a member of the European Union.  Our political leaders managed to lead our nation during world-wide prosperous economic highs and through international economic woes.   Since Malta gained Independence, some have, at various intervals, felt the need to step in to rescue these Islands from falling into the hands of the shameless elites who presented themselves as knights in shining armour.  In the last general election the Moviment found fertile ground, promised comfort and shelter to all and vowed sound and rich values.  Back then, the electorate flocked in the open arms of the disguised PL.       

Against all odds, in a relatively short span of time, the disappointed electorate started to look for shelter elsewhere.  People are troubled with the high number and level of alleged cases of corruption and political scandals, and are equally concerned with this administration for allowing the crony elite turn Malta into a family business.

This evening, I trust, that Dr Busuttil will let the crowds know that he deeply shares their frustration and their apprehension as the current administration missteps, again and again, and fails to take corrective measures to protect the common good and the sterling reputation of Malta. 

I have no doubt that Dr Busuttil will use this evening’s event to convey a positive, honest message to the crowds.  The people are in search of a true political party which professes transparency, accountability and meritocracy and Dr Busuttil should pledge in clear terms that a future PN administration will honour these values at all costs.   

In the process, Dr Busuttil should also promise to rectify all forms of injustices.  The crowds should be reassured that Malta will not suffer another setback with a new PN led administration.  People are getting tired of the PL administration because it constantly tries to justify and measure its wrongdoings with past PN administrations.                        

Dr Busuttil will surely touch on other issues, but one thing he will definitely not do.  He will not stoop low in his speech to rouse PN supporters.  He will remain the composed politician that he promised to be when he was elected leader of the PN.  I am equally convinced that he will not resort to political jargon which would, in the short term, give him and the PN an edge over his political opponents.  No doubt, Dr Busuttil will stay away from comments similar to the ones made by the Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Trump called for Clinton's security officers to be stripped of their firearms - and then added, "Let's see what happens to her." Republican US presidential candidate Trump is facing harsh criticism after appearing to hint at the assassination of his Democratic rival Clinton.

In contrast with Trump’s deplorable comment, Mohandas Gandhi’s comes to mind.  Mahatma championed the non-violence and passive resistance philosophy during the campaign for independence in India.  The epigram eye for eye, tooth for tooth is a twist from the Biblical Book of Exodus. There is a more elaborate version of this clever maxim: an eye for eye and a tooth for a tooth would lead to a world of blind and toothless people.

This brings me to the issue of public-office holders pushing forward their political viewpoints.  Persons entrusted with public office duties should, when delivering speeches or using any of the wide mass-communication means available including the social media, make sure that their statements dignify and hone the status of the public office they hold. 

Public-office holders cannot, and should not, use a terminology or a phraseology which rots or decays the status of the public office they hold.  Public-office holders should be barred from expressing their political views while they hold office.  A high level of decorousness is not only expected from public office holders but is a must.    

Persons in public office should propagate healthy debates but refrain from hurling insults and politically-motivated veiled threats.  Inciting people with belligerent comments is a serious offence.    The consequences of such language are well known to the people who lived during the politically turbulent years of the early 80s. 

We should not risk retracing the past.  The electorate will soon be called to pick a political vehicle capable to take Malta to the next higher level.

The choice should be obvious.       

 

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