Snakes change their skin regularly. They shed the old one and slither on, capable of swallowing whatever lies in front of them, even if bigger than them. Snakes are just like politicians, especially ministers.

We’ve witnessed a so-called change in government. Joseph Muscat, the “kink of kinks” is gone. And Robert Abela is quickly taking over the mantle, or rather the sleaze skin, bequeathed to him by his predecessor.

The snake, poor chap, has never had it too good in the way history or the Bible has depicted him. The snake cost us our Eden and, closer to home, a viper nearly killed off the first Christian on Maltese soil, the man who converted us from horrific paganism to good Christianity.

To my mind, the St Paul story and the viper incident particularly highlights how fickle Maltese people have always been and how ready to sing hallelujah to whoever seems to work wondrous magic.

It’s the same with the way Robert Abela and his worthy ministers are acting. They shed their skin, play some musical chairs, continue playing havoc with our lives, but once they have a magic wand and help us keep buoyant and economically safe why ask any other pertinent questions? If the pesky foreigners from the EU or any other body ask too many questions we can always stamp our feet and say they are wrong and jealous.

I’m not sure if this was lost in the mists of protests and Christmas uncheer but did we ever find out why Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi resigned? I know why they had to but what was the official reason? If they did something wrong which prevented them from retaining their positions, by what stretch were they able to remain MPs?

Chris Cardona is an even more twisted situation. He had self-suspended himself and then auto-reappointed himself. That Robert Abela did not re-reappoint him is neither here, there nor anywhere.

That they never gave a proper reason is beyond me. Not beyond most people however, especially the supporters of the Labour Party who still think the sun shines out of the red windows in Mile End in Hamrun where nothing nefarious has ever happened on the fourth floor.

Besides the supporters, the backers – the big monied ones – are still in thrall of the Labour Party. Seeing how business is conducted here on this isle, it hardly surprises anyone that Labour is loved so much. The more you genuflect and pay respect the more business you get. “Long live Labour long live the new kink of the country” seems to be a good mantra.

Joseph Muscat, Chris Cardona and Konrad Mizzi are not in jail. Nor are they being investigated. They are also still MPs. So we, the people, should strictly speaking address them as Honourable, when they don’t know the meaning of the word.

These three unjust men are now lying slightly low. Like snakes they slither around seeing where to hide and where to move in safety. They know that no law or no public outcry can hound them enough. Because they are still calling the shots, if not all at least some of them, enough to keep them free and unencumbered.

Honourable my left foot: as honourable as the slimiest of creatures that ever slithered on this land. 

Joseph Muscat has recently been singled out by Lovin Malta for emailing foreign business heads thanking them for their contribution to Malta’s success. The article that shone the spotlight on this pointed out that the former premier must have broken data protection as he must have taken their contact details without permission.

My worry is not the horror of breaking the law with regard to usage of these contact details. My worry is more concerning what he did with these details. What is he contacting them for? As Lovin Malta rightly pointed out the former prime minister constantly used his private email address, breaking all rules of good governance and proper procedure.

So we have no way of knowing what he told these businessmen and what dealings were being brokered, suggested or commented on. Joseph Muscat was capable of allowing his chief of staff and possibly others access to information regarding a murder investigation. This was the ultimate of misdeeds – so some dealing and insider trading with businesspeople would be petty stuff for Joseph Muscat.

And the new prime minister – the new skin of the old snake – slithers on, saying nothing and instituting no new inquiry into the dealings and corruption connected to his predecessor and some, or most, of his ministers.

We are really living in horrendous times. Skin changes, and cosmetic plastering will never be enough. If the snake needs his head cut off then off with his head.