A business leader can be considered an oligarch if the following conditions are satisfied: uses monopolistic tactics to dominate an industry; possesses sufficient political power to promote their own interests; controls multiple businesses, which intensively coordinate their activities. I would add that a political leader who uses their access, influence and power to gain personal or third party advantage whether financial or political, is also by definition an oligarch. A green light from, or an association with, an influential person, such as Robert Abela and Joseph Muscat before him is the grease that keeps the wheels turning in their favour.
We heard what Christian Borg had to say about his friendship with “Bobby” and the protection and game level it gave him. Yorgen Fenech cast the date of the election as the right time to set plans in place that would save Muscat from the fallout gathering around him. Building applications recommended for refusal, such as the latest block of 73 out of 125 apartment- complex on the cliffs of Sannat, are suddenly given the approval through an equally complex piece of engineering, whose method is all intertwined and woven into the fabric of corruption and the job of delivering to the oligarch.
Where does the line between business and politics fall? Konrad Mizzi got so confused about it that he had to turn to higher powers to get him out of it. In a classic “it wasn’t me” plea, he let his tunic fall and went away running naked.
Robert Abela uses other strategies. He ignores, he puts his nose up into the air but he equally runs away.
Those oligarchs who steer him are relentless in pursuit of their aims. No matter what environmental, ecological, cultural and social damage will be inflicted, if there is a project that is earmarked for development, by any means possible, it will succeed and obtain approval. Whether it is roads cutting right through agricultural land, farmers being evicted and above all, land that belongs to the heritage of the island, becoming transformed into mega projects, nothing is saved if it serves the ones who coordinate the activities that go together in the business and political structure.
NGO Moviment Graffiti called out PA Executive Council Saliba's and developer Portelli's "sickening tactics."
"The PA and Portelli are using new tricks which are sickening! The authorities are rolling out the red carpet for illegalities by Portelli and his partners, encouraging blatant breaking up of applications and evasion of environmental studies. We have already reported illegal works closing off the entire area between the site and the cliffs and the authorities have done nothing! This development will devastate Sannat and its quaint surroundings. The PA and their web of dysfunctional systems are destroying the charm and peace of our beautiful Gozitan villages," Graffitti said.
Such tactics do not exist in a vacuum. They are the by-product of an organization that puts itself above the law and above all human and common values. That Abela permits such tactics to go ahead regardless of public sentiment and at a crucial time with the election around the corner, is evidence of the noose around him. Whichever way he turns he faces retribution. Raising his head may be what he needs to do to see better but it is not helping him get out of this grip with which he is held. Having been a significant part of the structure that set up the oligarchic system in the first place, he is locked in for good.
Taking a page out of Konrad Mizzi’s book and going down the path of redemption is not a valid way out for him. His materialistic cravings are too huge and no time in the desert will convince him to give up his bread. All he can do is concede and leave the strings that he is attached to pull him any way that they want.
The whiff of weakness precedes him. He cannot go anywhere without it being picked up. Whether or not it will develop into paranoia is still to be seen but indications are there that that is where he is heading.
And yet, he is determined that he will head to victory on 26th March. All he has is to do is speak in Euro language and throw enough figures to the crowd that they grab at the money falling from the sky. Lazy people are like that. And Abela is one lazy guy, pampered since birth and anointed into the clan with the objective of keeping quiet and following the money trail.
In the absence of an electoral manifest, the PL campaign leads with new planning permissions, an assurance of citizenship programmes to continue and a Not in my Back Yard syndrome. The “Refugees not welcome” sign is out and the “Not in my time” defence continues to defy and gaslight the public. Dupe enough lazy people and you are transformed into a God. Only this god has no power of his own. It is owned by the oligarchs around him and they can decide when to take it away from him, not the election, not the public.
Abela knows this and conforms. He is the ultimate conformist. His reputation may be in tatters but still he must oblige. He may be isolated within his own party but unless he wishes to keep some dignity and resign, then the path of survival for him lies in concession.
Nothing will change for Malta if he is re-elected. The future for Malta is the same as that for the IIP scheme. All permits and all abuses will continue on undisturbed. Even if we are starving because we cannot import food with the rising prices and if all the land has a block of apartments above it and our reputation around the world remains in the trash, the oligarchs and the contracts between greedy business and politics will prevail. People will somehow be made to see grey as the new black. New sensational topics will be presented, such as euthanasia and of course, abortion, to distract and deceive the public opinion. Shows of strength with the weak will assure that we have a strong leader capable of protecting our security.
Privately, it may be time for Abela to look at the situation that Russia’s oligarchs now find themselves in. Judgement comes. Today’s world is not able to adapt to the realities it faces on a now defunct system of privilege and deterrence. Under Labour Malta is taken back to a Russian state, without oil.