Both contenders for the post of PL leader, and subsequently the winner becoming Prime Minister, have already shown significant deficiencies in their ability to solve the problems which the country currently faces.

Both have failed to realise that by sowing division or by ignoring the press the idea of restoring Malta’s international reputation will fail to be achieved. We need to fix ourselves first, and sort out this ‘we are being persecuted’ mentality.

The first to flounder was Robert Abela. He keeps ignoring requests for interview and questions sent from sections of the independent media. Ignoring the independent media is not the way forward, doing so will only create distrust in your potential administration.

Chris Fearne then made his RIPN comment, which in itself was a very divisive statement. He then made another, targeting the independent English language media. While speaking about the importance of political parties having their own news stations, which in reality are more propaganda stations than anything else, said that English language newspapers have an agenda against the Labour Party… if ever there was rubbish spewed out of a politician’s mouth…

The English language newspapers do not have an agenda against the Labour Party. Our agenda is to keep the political class as a whole in check, to ensure that illegalities, corruption and other questionable shady issues conducted by Malta’s political class are reported, as has been done over the years on politicians from all parties.

Minister Fearne, alienating the independent media will only do two things. Firstly it will result in the distrust of your potential government. Secondly it will make it seem as though there is a confrontation between the media and the government, when in fact the media is there to keep government in check. Attempting to sow distrust in the independent media damages democracy as a whole.

While on the topic of political stations, they are probably one of the main reasons why there are still so many diehards on the red or blue side who will vote for their party no matter what mistakes or wrongdoings are done. In order for Malta’s society to advance, perhaps getting rid of political party media, and further increasing the independence of PBS would be the right direction. Political party media can never report what is going on without bias.

So one candidate believes the independent media are out to get the Labour Party, another ignores the media. Malta’s democratic deficit will remain after this election. It seems that things will not be getting better with whoever is elected by the PL delegates.

Have neither of you learnt nothing over the past few years?