The Muscat administration is sinking in a sea of dishonesty. Even though it won last June’s election, it has just been humiliated in Strasbourg and with it all our country’s reputation has sunk. Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder has even touched the collective conscience of the EU. Even on matters regarding corruption, the EU has started to wake up, a bit late, but still taking notice.
All this piling of pressure is definitely being felt by the Government. As always it has produced a new spin. This time the issue is abortion. Muscat, through his Minister Helena Dalli, is showing how much of a spin master he is, by starting to shift attention towards an issue that is likely to dominate our political discourse in the coming months. If you feel indignant and angry at this administration’s shameless ways, you are sharing my sentiments.
We must unite against a corrupt and dishonest government
Against this corrupt administration, the people need a strong and united PN. A party which, in front of an administration that each day aspires towards hegemony in political power, will provide a viable alternative.
Against this dishonest trend in our politics, the people must unite. We must look beyond our personal interest and find a common denominator that unites us. We must look beyond the modern day opium of a quick buck, a culture of hedonism and pleasure at all costs, a society were personal interest without moral obligations, dominates and decides our political choices. We must move from politics in which the end justifies the means to one in which we look at the common good as the main aim of an ethics based politics. In my opinion the common denominator that will pilot this change is a renewed PN, strong enough to challenge the new oligarchic Tagħna lkoll class has emerged, feeding on the trough of corruption
Laying aside Banquo’s ghost
In Shakespeare’s classic play Macbeth, the main protagonist, the aforementioned Macbeth, is haunted by the murder of Banquo, the king’s loyal servant. It seems that this administration, which let us not forget is still in its early months, will also be similarly marked by the tragic and heinous assassination committed recently. Its business as usual attitude betrays a sense of foreboding, an attempt in wishing events away.
Yet this reality also places a burden on my shoulder. I, as a candidate who backed Chris Said during the leadership contest, am placing all my trust on Adrian Delia as leader. I am not just declaring allegiance and giving support. I am wholeheartedly convinced that he is the man who can lead our party of success. Some have called my decision as the action of an opportunist, riding on a rising bandwagon. Others still distrust the new leader, finding some aspects of his past objectionable. Then there are those who have lost all hope in the PN being a factor of change.
My answer to these objections is this. Give him time to prove himself. I trust Adrian Delia. I take his word of honour and have no doubt about his rectitude. If any wrongdoing emerges, time will tell, but on my part he has my full confidence as I am convinced of his honesty. I am ready, if chosen for this position, to provide all the necessary help, to be his right hand man and to do all that is required to win.
Delia was elected in an open and democratic process. He is the leader of my party and I will do all I can to see him as Prime Minister. All those who know me or have followed me during my political career can attest to my genuine loyalty and devotion to the party’s basic principles.
Over the years our party has seen its principles and values diluted beyond recognition. Some have even told me that they didn’t see any difference between the PN and the PL. I believe that Delia will be the one who will bring not only unity, but also give our party a rerouting towards the values that have always characterised the PN. At the same time he is promising a new way, a promise which I believe he will keep in the coming months. Our party firmly rooted in Christian Democratic and Humanistic values will provide a real alternative to the current situation.
Together we can make it. Together we can act as guardians of the common good, provide good governance and most of all restore the good name of our country. This is what I believe and this is what I stand for.
Edwin Vassallo is a PN MP and candidate for the post of deputy leader for parliamentaryA affairs