Robert Abela and the Labour campaign are in crisis. The pledges and initiatives announced since the election date was made public amount to nothing more than dishing out even more cheques and back-tracking on all the elements that were the bread and butter of the super ministers.
Gone is the marina project in Marsascala. Back comes Zonqor. No discussions with Steward are ongoing. Out with the trees but in with the fake gardens which cannot be sustained in our hot climate and with the kind of summers we are experiencing. This garden story is like when there was an aim to build golf courses in Malta and Gozo. Have any been built?
The one cornerstone that is untouchable is hunting and the hunters. Labour will continue to bend backwards and whatever way the association dictate, in spite of any public protest against it. With hunters making up the best part of the majority that PL are expected to gain over the PN, it is always the lazy option to keep them on the front burner.
On the other hand the PN have tabled studied initiatives which are sure to gain credibility and popularity for them. Bernard Grech stated that the PN’s electoral programme is based on three elements including environmental protection, respect for social obligations as well as good governance. We have, to-date, still to hear what position the PN will take against the abusive hunting permits and the protection they are given. The proposed Gozo-only referendum on a permanent link is short-sighted too and can be considered undemocratic. When the marina in Marsascala was proposed, it was not just the residents of the town that come out to protest. People came from all over the island because it is a national issue too.
It is also time that the political party debts owed are financed and paid. Are there any plans for this to happen and how?
But with the PN you can sense a clear direction and vision. With Labour, on the other hand, they are scrambling to undo the huge damage they have caused to communities and voter bases and have fallen to borrowing ideas from the PN. Once again cheques to the elderly are waved in-front of them. You would think they would use their resources in another demographic that is not as secure as the third-age group.
It is strange that Labour should have a wide popularity amongst youths, when they have nothing to offer them apart from meeting their mother at the minister’s office and finding some place for them in one of their schemes or phantom jobs they conjure up. Maybe it is a reflection of how the family in Malta remains the protector even when children have become adults.
In a recent survey commissioned by the University of Malta’s Faculty for Social Wellbeing and carried out by Sagalytics, the most important issue that emerged was ‘strengthening of families’. By that, you can understand, building permits, jobs and social climbing for the children and pensions. Anarchy rather than rule of law.
The lack of independence is continued for a life-time. Mum and dad build a flat for their kids, do all the electrics and plumbing in it and supper is on the table.
The major platforms used in previous elections by Labour were the citizenship programme and the new LNG power station. Both are now mired in controversy and scandal. The rest was based on a race to build at any cost. Their star was Joseph Muscat who today stands not just out of his job but on the brink of an unwelcome change in status. Along with him the feisty Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi are the unmentionables, although still protected. Efforts to push Robert Abela to a cult status are failing badly. Their gothic slogan and logo show the opposite effect of positive and look like blood dripping down or a Cadbury dark chocolate. Maybe this time round they have not had access to the same sources of funds as before and that is the best they could come up with at short notice.
Of course, the PN’s logo is not much better but they can be forgiven. At the end of the day it sends the right message. It is really encouraging to see the formidable candidates they have contesting. From young to more mature, their grasp of the politics and policies is impressive and whatever the result of the election may be, it would be good to see them remain and grow with the party. They also demonstrate a strong commitment so we can hope that come what may they will still be around to contribute to taking the PN to the next level and convincing new voters.
Net TV need to shift from an introvert mentality to an extrovert one especially since we know that the state TV is under Labour control. That is, they must wake up and realize that most viewers are only now tuning in and getting to hear the candidates and other competent speakers. Significant number of viewers also form part of the floating voters. The name of the guest is announced at the beginning of the programme (current affairs) and not again. So, if you tune in half way through a programme, you may not know who the speaker is and much benefit is lost. The first name basis is also devaluing and diminishing the speakers. This is not a class mate and for many, they are new faces. This is not how unity is shown. Respect elevates. Every so often the question should be addressed with full name basis and occasionally a reminder of the position they hold or who they represent. They should also keep in mind that when we have the voting list document in front of us, candidates are listed in alphabetical order, surname first. So we might have been convinced by David or Anthony or Julie or whoever and then not have a clue that he or she is the one on our paper and sitting at the bottom of the list. Besides, marketing and advertising is all about reminding people of that name or that product so that it becomes recognizable and subconsciously you purchase it. Apart from that they conduct some very good programmes.
In the midst of the tragic unfolding of events in Ukraine, an election rivalry can seem so futile. If only we could become more civic minded and better members of the international order.