Compare and contrast the way that clear cases of corruption, tax avoidance, financial crimes and so many more unethical situations, are simply in the character of the family of the Labour party whilst minor insignificant accusations are glaring scandals never to be forgotten when it comes to the Nationalist party.
Dr Muscat’s reference to “your children are my children” puts it all in the Labour family, especially when addressing the labour grass roots who are struggling to get on board with his rhetoric this time round
The family analogy also sends a message of “omerta” in mafia-style which anyone who has had a member of their family in trouble with the law or requiring of the system, can identify with. You don’t “grass” on someone (or inform or betray) who is in trouble with the law. With that paternalistic phrase, Dr Muscat is lending his power and weight to the vulnerable people before him, ever fearful of abandoning their true protector, now just a memory from the past but nevertheless still prevalent in their psyche.
In fact, Dr Muscat was quick to latch onto Dr Busuttil’s characterisation of the need for better housing and support services for the people of the Cottonera area and give it a 360 degree spin so that it fits nicely into his image of protector of the people. Only he can ensure their secrets remain buried and that he will stand by them. Poor they may be but he will not be the one to tell them so.
The more scandals are exposed the more it makes clear that he is above the law and has the Commissioner under his command. Some people find this reassuring.
In his ground-breaking book “What is Populism”, the renowned author, Jan-Werner Müller – a professor of politics at Princeton University, - argues that at populism's core is a rejection of pluralism. Populists will always claim that they and they alone represent the people and their true interests. Müller also shows that, contrary to conventional wisdom, populists can govern on the basis of their claim to exclusive moral representation of the people: if populists have enough power, they will end up creating an authoritarian state that excludes all those not considered part of the proper "people." The book proposes a number of concrete strategies for how liberal democrats should best deal with populists and, in particular, how to counter their claims to speak exclusively for "the silent majority" or "the real people."
In this respect Muscat has again done a 360 degree turn, away from the inclusivity of the 2013 election where he sought to attract the capitalist voters back towards the traditional labour stronghold.
In a question : How can claims that populists speak exclusively for "the silent majority" be countered?
In the context of American politics Müller replies: In a diverse democracy containing many interests and identities, populists' anti-pluralism opens the path to excluding entire groups — and to authoritarianism. Those fighting populists have to be absolutely explicit about this danger and should not shy away from calling a racist a racist, in a case like Trump's. But they also have to avoid a trap: they end up contradicting themselves if they, in turn, demonize the supporters of the demonizers, or effectively end up saying: "because you exclude, we exclude you." It's the trap that Hillary Clinton fell in when she criticized Trump voters as "deplorables." (The broad base of the PN candidates ensures that this is not the case for them and they have sought to encompass several politics and ideas this time round). Above all, liberal democrats have to offer both substantive policy ideas that can work for voters of populist parties and conceptions of a pluralist collective identity that are more attractive than the populists' fantasies of pure peoplehood.
In other words, it is essential that valid alternatives are proposed to all sectors of society that can unify and not divide. The message is one of peace and prosperity and cohesiveness.
An anomaly arises in the case of those in authority, where the very nature of their work requires them to be neutral and non-exclusive, such as Chairmen of Boards and Organisations, the Commissioner of Police, the Attorney General, the Environmental authority, the Malta Financial Services authority, the Head of the Civil Service and others. These persons are appointed to serve all the country and should not need a paternalistic or protective figure to defend them. On the contrary, it is their job to defend the values of democracy and good governance in the role that they serve.
This indicates that there is no middle road, no objective position here in Malta. You are either with us or against us is the mentality conditioning so many, from the lowest workers to the highest position.
Is this a failure of the education system which left students without any critical skills or who were always afraid to open their mouth and ask questions and develop a mind of their own?
For the majority, that could be the case but for some who have had some of the best teaching available on the island and abroad, maybe the culture goes right to their family upbringing. The middle class that Dr Muscat was so keen to create in the election of 2013 is now being dragged back into the dark decades of the Mintoff era. The only thing missing is the carcade of trucks packed with red flag flying crowds banging and screaming. I would not be surprised if Labour should win this election, this scene will emerge again. They supressed themselves last election but this time round, they know that Muscat can hold no real authority over them because he is now in their power, should they “grass” on him.
This then is a pact that currently may be balanced in favour of the “people” - I don’t tell on you and you don’t tell on me but I have the power to remove you. The scandals remind people that Muscat holds the “jolly”, having the Commissioner of Police in his corner. Whatever the journalists and the opposition have to say is a clear betrayal of this contract. Muscat therefore has entered into a contract with the “people” that he will not break. That to him is where he has kept his word. It matters not a jot to the “people” whether or not the power station is ready 2 years too late or if it is needed or not. They will not stop to think about what cost is involved for them through corruption or how the financial services may collapse. They even go so far as allowing their leader the benefit of the doubt as to why he kept Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi beside him, in full knowledge of what they did.
If we are to keep the peace in the house and home, the questions have to put aside and never mentioned. Then one day, after the baby is born, or the husband has returned and the son is home again, we can once again have a good “festa” and lean out of the balcony throwing papers.
Konrad Mizzi chose to be seen at the Hibs football game. Chris Cardona was sure to get a good night out at the town feast. Keith Schembri, on the other hand, is like the son of the family who can do no wrong. Mother’s favourite. Like the refugee who left the desert kingdom to make sure that the village could thrive with the proceeds of his adventure far from home.
A bargain is struck. Complicity is in its very nature.
Dr Muscat is telling them that instead of cleaning up his act, he is going to clean the wires, fix the roads and stop building on green areas. I wonder what that man who lost his patience with Minister of Transport, Joe Mizzi, will have to say about that plan, having seen the road in front of his house unfinished for months.
The test of this election will be in how many are still stuck in the middle ages? How many have rented out their free will and thinking? How many still feel the need to act as a group of outlaws? Will they ever make that essential change by speaking out and claiming their liberty from the “Boss”, il Padrone as he has now styled himself? The deputy Prime Minister, Louis Grech, was right on cue to say that he has felt that he was working in the family. The new campaign consultant, though, may have missed the connection that people are making with this whole family affair. It is clearly too close for comfort.
Tall buildings and second-hand fancy cars are not going to change the culture. People find it hard to believe they are born free. It is for the opposition to persuade them to listen, to trust and to believe in themselves and their right to a clean and honest government. It is then up to the people to get the government they deserve.