The sight of Moviment Graffiti’s Andre Callus facing down Minister Ian Borg will be one for the history books. The protestors camped outside the Planning Authority are championing the rage and hurt of a large portion of the population who have long felt voiceless in our broken political system.

Because of clientelism, people in Malta and Gozo are often weary of speaking out against authority. There are often severe social and professional consequences for those who oppose the government, whether it is a Nationalist or Labour administration. One’s access to lucrative contracts or promotions depends on fealty, loyalty and favour between the ruler and the ruled in our country. Politicians are lords, not servants and mobilising people in favour of the environment is therefore difficult.

How then is it possible to inspire people to stand up to authority? One must set an example for others to follow. Furthermore, by being a civil society organisation rather than a political party, it is easier for Moviment Graffitti to galvanise people to act without them being labelled in such a way as to risk affecting their careers due to clientelism. Similarly, the recent student march against clientelism could inspire many students because it was not political, though it was perhaps less effective for having included all political parties.

It is crucial that people learn to stop idolising and fearing their politicians. Our country – which has endured so much – is now being systematically destroyed by a Third Great Siege, in which developers wreck our heritage and environment and spoil our clean air, while our treasonable government invites our former allies to attack Malta and Gozo from the EU Parliament, when once we were proud and respected equals there.

The Prime Minister tries to patch it all up with cosmetic gimmicks like gender quotas, which merely offer an MP’s salary to 12 women without addressing any of the real problems women face.

Well, how about you doing something for all women and not just 12? Half the electorate is female and they know how to vote just fine. This is a government of appearances, smoke and mirrors. What is needed to resist it is the people themselves – armed with facts, courage and vision. We must be wary of the leaders whose tone changes as if they are tuning a radio to find the most effective frequency. Judge not their loyalty to a party, but their consistency to principles and country.

I cheer Moviment Graffiti’s action because there will never be an Opposition more honest and effective than the people themselves, because politicians should only ever be their servants and representatives. The people should remind our Parliament of that.

Timothy Alden is the Deputy Leader of Partit Demokratiku