I was quite surprised to learn that the Chief Justice considered he should as a top priority at the beginning of the New Year, make a strong point about the “downgrade” in the protocolar rank of certain sections of the judiciary. Since he decided to highlight the matter the way he did, necessarily one must conclude that for him, this is a priority issue.

One must doubt whether that can be the case, at a time when Maltese judicial systems are still so opaque and considered by so many citizens as a locus for delays and procedural pitfalls. In this area, while recently there have been some improvements, we still figure among the European countries where the courts operate with least efficiency. It is disturbing to listen to the accounts of people who are seeking justice and who are left dangling.

In this context, it seems that the reform launched some three years ago by the government has been sidelined.

That’s a much more crucial concern than the worry expressed by the Chief Justice on his own behalf and that of his colleagues: whether they merit or not, the honour of being seated three seats more to the left or right in the front rows at St John’s co-Cathedral, when ceremonies are in full swing. Come on.

***

Non-story

A leading newspaper considered that the story about how the Maltese Parliament was spending 10,000 euros on an order for cuff link souvenirs carrying images of the new Parliament building was so important, it placed the item front page. Now most Parliaments have a souvenir of some kind, which their Speaker and high officials offer to visiting foreign dignitaries. Over the years, I did receive one or two.

Not only should the cuff links story not have made it to front page – it should have been considered a non-story. However, in some sections of the local media, there prevails a persistent and puerile effort to display in a bad light – that’s the idea – all that institutions do, for as long as Labour is in government.

Another such instance of puerility was displayed recently when a different line of attack was prominently developed by the same media sources. It went as follows: Prime Minister Muscat and his government have no right to preside over the European Union, or to make sure they get value added from Malta’s presidency of the Union. This because he militated against the country’s full membership of the Union.

And yet, you find people who deny that the PN establishment is as of now, still deeply aggrieved simply because it considers itself dispossessed of the state power that its members believe belongs to them by some divine right.

***

Fillon

The forecast in France is that at the second round of the French presidential elections, the competition will be between Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, “extreme” right, and Francois Fillon, representing the right wing Republicans. The latter will then win handsomely, as left wing voters switch their vote to him.

There could be a complication in this scenario: It is true that Fillon will likely win back a substantial portion of the Catholic vote which Le Pen’s party has assembled in past years. But Fillon is proposing a “reform” package which Mrs Thatcher would have endorsed. His proposals include one which seeks to cut government employment by some half a million jobs. Now, will left wing voters rush to endorse such a way forward?