In the controversies and discussions that have continued about the abuse of power and other forms of unacceptable behaviour one discovers how those who are most vocal in denouncing abuses, then shy away from discussing the pre-2013 past. Even if before that year, abuses really did happen, some of them argue, still that would not justify in any way what may be happening today.

This is true. Yet, taking a look back into the past also helps to cover some very important aims, among which that of understanding better why abuses arise, how they do so, as well as to obtain information about the personal relations from which abuses arise.

If this is not done, the probability remains that as has always happened up to now, those who arise to condemn “abuses” are only doing so for as long as the government is run by a party they disagree with. As soon as the situation changes, they will stay silent.

So, they are comfortable with the scenario by which the campaign against corruption and abuses develops into a soap opera that one can open and shut off on request, even if the problems that now disturb them so much, will stay alive. That way, when the political situation changes and their preferred party is in government, they can go back to sleep.   

*** 

TRANSPARENCY 

With the passage of the years, I noticed how in Malta, what people in an administrative function find most difficult to accept is the need for transparency. In the large majority of cases, this has nothing to do with any intention to commit abuses.

No. Simply, our culture seems to emphasize the idea that when an administrative programme is being carried out, even by a public corporation, the less you give information to others about what you as an official are doing, the better. The less you keep others in copy, the less there will be individuals trying to create disruptions.

However, when complex decisions need to be taken, each and every one of which depends on other decisions being taken by other decision makers who are participating in the same exercise, cooperation is imperative. All involved must be sharing full information about what each and every one is doing. By pulling all on the same rope they would at the end, be reinforcing transparency. 

*** 

SOCCER GAMES 

I begin to suspect that European football is probably not clear of the charge that it is subject to occult manipulations. Such suspicions do not arise because some football matches end up with – to say the least – bizarre results, but because of the way by which they achieve such results.

Two factors would explain why pressures could arise for results to be “adjusted”. Much of the revenue that accrues to football matches comes from television rights. When TV viewing gets bigger, so does the pool of TV advertising. If in a football league schedule, the decision about who will become champion is clinched too quickly, TV viewers will decrease and advertising becomes less attractive.

Secondly, the fact is that the volume of gambling on foootball matches, both legal and illegal, has exploded during this pandemic. One does not need to live life in suspicious mode, but meanwhile, one does not need to be too naive either.