With all that is going on in our country, we risk missing out on issues which are usually the centre of debates in a “normal” country. Corruption, sleaze and money laundering are not the main topics of discussion in the democratic world we proudly form part of.

Joseph Muscat did not promise us a “normal” country. We all assumed that nothing would really change. Normality was taken for granted after 1987. Of course, we were wrong. However, Muscat promised us the “most feminist government” in our island’s history. He also promised we would be “the best in Europe.” On this we were not wrong. These were two big fake promises.

Take the situation of women in Malta.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2016, published by the World Economic Forum, places Malta in the 108th place. This is a dramatic fall of 24 places in four years: from 84 to 108. It is the worst placing ever for our country. It places us at the bottom of the European league table. It is also a poor showing on the global stage.

The Global Gender Gap Report is a very detailed index. It considers crucial matters which directly affect the lives of women around the world. It includes key indicators like salaries, health, education and participation in decision-making. It is because issues like these that Malta has been downgraded by 24 places.

For instance, take the issue of salaries and wages. Maltese women lost 30 places: from 87th place in 2013 to 117th today.

Clearly this indicates that the majority of Maltese women in the labour market are being paid poorly for their hard work. It confirms the Malta Economic Survey indicators, which show women’s salaries are barely enough for women to make it over the poverty line. It also corroborates the Caritas report, which features women among the poorest in our country.

Helena Dalli, Joseph Muscat and their inner circles will argue that there are women who are high earners and decision-makers in Malta. I shudder to think of the examples they might present us with. They have enough sense not to mention Sai Mizzi (a Maltese citizen). I hope they spare us the Labour Party officials who have been given very lucrative posts, including salaries, perks, direct orders and contracts, none of which are doing anything to improve women’s position in our society.

I salute those women who, through their profession or business, are successful. However, when Malta loses 30 places in the section on women’s salaries, it is obvious to all that the number of women who are earning a good salary is very small.

And what about women’s health and education?

Our health minister is constantly boasting about the huge improvements in the health sector. But how is this translating itself when we look at women’s health?

Sadly, this is the biggest tumble our country got in the report. Malta went from a respectable 65th place down to 107th place. Healthy life expectancy for women went down from 78th to 115th place: a loss of 37 places. Perhaps the minister can explain this.

Please don’t give me the “it is because abortion is illegal” excuse. We did not have abortion in 2013 and our position was better than what it is today. And, frankly, I am not willing to accept the argument that we need to introduce abortion to improve the gender gap. We need to roll up our sleeves and improve women’s health through prevention and healthy life-style approaches.

Education has also had its effect. Under Muscat’s government, education for women has tumbled down 53 places: from 58th to 111th.

So, what is the crux of this problem? Why is one half of our population faring so badly in comparison with other countries?

A lot has to do with the fact that, far from being progressive and feminist, Muscat's government is retrograde. Under his watch, the participation of women in politics lost 29 places: from 53 to 82. Decision-making positions for women went down 80 places: from 41 to 121.

There is nothing progressive or feminist in systematically choosing Labour officials and activists for positions of trust with hefty salaries. Even if a few are women, it does not improve the position of women in society. It only continues to line the pockets of the politically privileged at the expense of the poor or less advantaged.

Labour is not just making the gender gap wider. It is making the society gap wider. A few are getting rich(er) while the number of women (and men) on the poverty line is increasing on a daily basis. This is the price our society has to pay for corruption.