While preparing to pen this piece, I thoughtwhich issues merit thorough reflection now that the electoral campaign is gearingup.  I concluded that good governance deserves detailed consideration. It is universally acknowledged that good governance safeguards the quality of life of each and every citizen.  Wherever good governance is undermined, people tend to carry the brunt. Good governance and the rule-of-law,particularly in a vibrant democracy,cannot be marginalised or substituted by electoral promises.

In a democracy, all independent authorities are expected to be competent,act swiftly, investigate without fear or favour and take all appropriate actions, including legal action, against anyone embroiled in alleged corruption.  If the competent authorities fail in this fundamental duty, then citizens’ rights would be severely threatened by these same authorities entrusted with the responsibility to curb white-collar crimes and other breaches of law.    

Good governance is a prerequisite.

But this administrationmessed things up royally, and the pre-election promise of good governance has vanished into thin air.  Against all odds and contrary to the Prime Minister’s promise that the general election will be held in March of next year,during the May Day manifestation organised by the PL Dr Muscat called a snap election for June 3. ThatDr Muscat announced the general election during a party manifestation was in very bad taste, and further fuels the impression that the PL and government are one entity.  Unfortunately,demarcation lines are already blurred in many people’s mind,and the snap general election announcement during a PL activity continues to ingrainthis impression in the minds of many.            

What has pushed Dr Muscat to call a snap general election is not known. He claims that his motivation to call an early election was to protect the best interests of the Islands.  But it is not heard of that a political party, which only four years ago made a landslide electoral victory,would call a snap general election unless the heat is becoming unbearable under the seat of the Prime Minister.  There must be another reason or cause. 

I will not speculate. I will stick to facts.

It is certain that serious uncertainty has hit the Islands in the wake of allegations that the Prime Minister’s spouse Mrs Michelle Muscat is the owner of the third secret offshorecompany registered in Panama, Egrant.This was further compounded by allegations that large sums of money had been transferred from a company owned by the daughter of the Azerbaijani President to Mrs Muscat’s company through a Pilatus Bank account.

While it appears that the Prime Minister obliquely acknowledges that he has failed miserably to take theappropriate actions against his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi when it was revealed that both held similar secret accounts in Panama, people are justified to conclude that he has his hands tied because his wife has a similar secret account too.

As the disgruntlement continued to grow even within the inner circles of the PL,DrMuscat was left with no other option but to call a snap election.

Dr Muscat must have rested on the conviction that he can take the other political parties by surprise, and earn him and his party another lease of life during which all serious alleged cases of corruption would be stalled, fixed or swept under the carpet.

But an early general election is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is the people’s will and wish to have independent institutions.  This should not be underestimated.  The outcome of the electionshould not bring down the curtain on these serious allegations, but rather the beginning. 

Do not get the impression thatI am an avid horse-racingenthusiast, but according to a quick google search horse races vary widely in format. Often, countries have developed their own particular horse-racing traditions. Variations include restricting races to particular breeds, running over obstacles, running over different distances, running on different track surfaces and running in different gaits.But races are not exclusive to horses, cars, cyclists, motor cyclists and athletes. Competitionsare healthy, and encourage those involved to further improvetheir performanceand maximise their potential, at times to par-excellence levels.Merited awards and trophies are bestowed only on those crossing the finishing line first.The other participantsreceive a consolation prize for their active participation. But in all instances, the empireis an important figure whooverlooks the races and takes immediate actions once an infringement is detected.  Empires are always independent authorities,arms-length away from the competing protagonists.  Likewise, our independent institutions are expected to fulfil their duties diligently and at all times. Moreover, these institutions must ensure that all information held in their possession is made public prior to the coming election. The electorate is not interested in participating in a fixed competition.  

Much as Dr Muscat tries to discredit the coalition between the Nationalist Party and the Democratic Party led by Dr Marlene Farrugia, a former PL MP elected on the PL ticket, this has also contributed to his call ofa snap election. Worse still was the strongly worded resignation letter addressed to the Prime Minister by the former PL Whip Dr Godfrey Farrugia just a day before May Day.This has provided further fuel to an already smouldering fire which Dr Muscat hopes to dampen by calling a snap election.

There are likely others in the PL group who, in the light of the unprecedented high levels of alleged corruption, may have put pressure on the Prime Minister to call an early election.  But these have preferred to say what they had to say behind closed doors.

The 3 June general election is not a competition between the political parties or their respective leaders,or the array of electoral proposals but is a test for the electorate.  The electorate will be tested for its level of tolerance and to what extent it is prepared to turn the blind eye to alleged cases of corruption. 

Let’s hope the electorate realises the importance of the coming general election and vote for the love of our Islands, the restructuring of our institutions and our own good.

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