A traditional pastime of ours, still widely practised, revolves around how to manage to bend rules and regulations currently in force in order to obtain what you desire or more generally to have it your own way. It could be a building permit, or some parking space, if not a ministerial decision or winning some prize or other.

To be sure, there’s one other custom that beats this particular hobby – the one by which we strive to get satisfaction by asking for a favour from the politician we back or claim to back. The implicit threat is that if our wishes are not met, we’d stop voting for him/her.

Over the years however, the traditional approach was continually being practised, frequently in confidential mode. It functions best for members of the social elites, through their networks of friendships and relationships by which to fix matters. Such networks are actually little better than hidden masonic fraternities, able to mend what gets broken, even matters of the greatest importance. Meanwhile, less influential people would be doing the same at the sidelines and on the sly, about relatively minor matters even if quite important for them.

I have little doubt that the same practices are still being carried forward today. Perhaps they have become more effective, at the same time less... or more?... evident, given the backing of modern technology. 

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EUROPE’S FUTURE

At least at last, the “public” debate about the future of Europe has been launched. It was not only delayed by the pandemic. There also emerged disagreement between the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament about who would have the strongest say on what is being run. The three institutions wanted to ensure for themselves if not total control over proceedings, at least a certain dominance.

The compromise they finally achieved on the matter hardly augurs the best of outcomes for the overall exercise. It is too bureaucratic, too complicated. It is as if its major aim was not to let anyone appear as a loser within the solution that was concocted.

As for the rest, there still remains dangling above the whole debate the danger that no matter what happens, it will end up as another occasion during which numerous meetings are held to feature many repetitious speeches containing points that we all have gotten to know by heart. Which is a pity.

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OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS

Now that shops and restaurants have reopened, one can only wish all the best to owners and their workers. May they benefit from brisk and good business.

The whole sector has been subjected to enormous economic and financial dislocations. Government aid was well timed for otherwise many more enterprises than actually did would have caved in. And yet, those who survived still find themselves in a fragile situation.

It is still not possible as of now to determine whether demand is going to pick up strongly as people strive to compensate for what they bought “less” last year. Effectively a substantial percentage of unsold product stocks from last year might not necessarily have a market this year. And it might have happened during the pandemic that a radical change occured in the habits and tastes that determine how goods get marketed.

Then above all, the impact of tourism has to be factored in. How it takes off, if it does, will greatly impact the commercial outturn of shops and restaurants. Still in this respect, it remains a total priority to ensure that all public health precautionary measures remain in full force.