- “If Muscat plans to introduce abortion, he will find me fighting him”
Abortion has been a subject of controversy for many years. As the Joseph Muscat government introduced more and more civil rights, it was inevitable that talk on the legalisation of abortion would have come up. Muscat sees himself as the champion of civil rights. Very often, he used them to deflect attention from some scandal that was hitting his government. In his last speech as PM, he said that as an MP he will dedicate himself to civil rights which, so far, had remained on the back-burner. Many interpreted this as a sign that he will be mounting a campaign in favour of abortion, although he never mentioned the word and, when asked by the media, never confirmed nor denied it is his intention to do so. But Robert Abela was quick to shoot the message. Not under my watch, he said. A clear sign that Abela was distancing himself from his predecessor and has no intention to see abortion legalised with him as Prime Minister.
- “I do not communicate with Keith Schembri”
Another bold statement, which chronologically was given before the one about abortion and before the Cabinet of Ministers was announced. What Abela was saying, indirectly but forcefully, was that his predecessor Joseph Muscat had been wrong in defending his former chief of staff, who (together with Konrad Mizzi) had embarrassed the government by secretively opening up a company in Panama and whose link with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia ultimately forced Muscat’s own resignation. The declaration cut a sharp dividing line between the Muscat and Abela administration.
- “I accept the resignation of Lawrence Cutajar”
Calls for the police commissioner to step down or be removed by the Joseph Muscat government had remained unheeded for months. Lawrence Cutajar never had the full trust of the Maltese people. The police’s failure to investigate allegations of corruption led many to believe that some were more equal than others. It took Robert Abela a few minutes to decide to let him go. Good move. What wasn’t good was to hear Abela then heap praise on the commissioner. He did not deserve it.
- “My government is pro-market”
Joseph Muscat said his government was “pro-business” several times. Speaking in Gozo, Abela shifted the argument. My government is pro-market, he said. Again, Abela was declaring a change of policy. Muscat was too pro-business, to the detriment of the community at large. The top-tier entrepreneurs had Muscat’s ear, and now that more information is emerging on the comings and goings on the PL HQ’s fourth floor, it is clear that some enjoyed certain privileges. Being pro-market is different than being pro-business, as it takes into account the needs of society. It is an attempt for a much-needed balance, even in terms of environmental considerations. We wait and see what Abela has in mind.
- “I have given instructions not to clear Daphne Caruana Galizia memorial”
Perhaps nobody expected this. For 26 months since Daphne was assassinated, vigils were held on the 16th day, during which flowers, candles and photos were placed at the foot of the Great Siege Monument, which was used as a memorial to the slain journalist. For 26 months, the items were cleared on the orders of then Justice Minister Owen Bonnici. This created more friction between the government and civil society, and more tension in the country. Abela’s decision to order the Daphne memorial to remain in place served two purposes – it defused the situation and laid the first stone towards a better relationship. Remember that, before being elected, Abela labelled protesters as being provocative. As PM, he acted in a more mature way.
- “The Roman Catholic faith will remain entrenched in the Constitution”
Talks about a re-drafting of Malta’s Constitution have been going on for years, and the subject of religion has been one that raised some concern. Arguments in favour of a more secular approach have been made, together with suggestions that any reference to the Roman Catholic faith should be removed. Abela’s declaration may be interpreted as being conservative, but the PM qualified it by saying that freedom of religion is already enshrined in Malta’s Constitution. Having the Roman Catholic religion listed in the Constitution does not prevent others from practising their faith, or no religion at all. Subject closed? Maybe.
- “Justyne Caruana resignation sets government ethical benchmark”
It took less than a week for the new PM to be faced with the resignation of a minister. Justyne Caruana resigned as Gozo Minister after it was reported that her husband, a former deputy police chief, had travelled to watch football games with the man who is now accused of complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. In accepting her letter of resignation, Abela said that the episode set the ethical benchmark for the government. Gone are the days when people like Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri stayed on in spite of embarrassing the government, he seemed to be saying. Other situations will develop in the future, and the same yardstick must be employed. Caruana cannot be seen to be just a sacrificial lamb.
- “We are in government so we take the decisions”
Asserting oneself as being in power and in control is something that all politicians in Robert Abela’s position do. It is also a jibe at the opposition – “you may say all you want, but only we can govern”, is what it means. But Abela would do well to listen to what others are saying, not only the opposition. Civil society and the media are sources of information and ideas that should not be discarded. Joseph Muscat’s government boasted that “it listened”, but it never did, and Muscat ended up having to resign. Abela should remember this.
- “Continuity is important, but change is also needed”
It is an oxymoron for some. But, reading through it, it has an important message. Abela wants to assure Labourites that what was good under Joseph Muscat will not be lost. But he also wants to make sure that the rest of the population – the part that thinks, and is not led by the nose – that he intends to correct what was wrong under the previous administration. And so much was wrong under Muscat. The first days of the Abela government shows a desire to move away from all that brought down Muscat (and his closest allies).
- “The plan for the future is to go back to full democracy”.
This week’s reports by The Economist and Transparency International give a clear picture of how the Muscat administration was seen. Under Muscat, each time some report from an international agency was published, the Labour machine dismissed it as hogwash and blamed the Nationalists for putting Malta in bad light. Asked last Wednesday, Abela did not try to belittle the report that had been published by The Economist, which for the first time dropped Malta from being a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy”. He said he wants to work to restore Malta’s place among the countries where “full democracy” was enjoyed. That’s how things should be done.
Video - Alenka Falzon