The period immediately following an election is a very valuable time which only the foolish waste through finger-pointing or squabbling.

I will focus today on the personal level. The level of groups and political parties comes later after the impact of the election on a personal level is taken on board and assimilated.

We have once again assisted at an election that has galvanised not to say monopolised attention in the country notwithstanding it came after two years of disruption caused by Covid and in the midst of a war on the European continent after 80 years. And it was a snap election. Time and again partisan politics are supreme in this small country.

The election results (Kudos for the smooth running and relatively quick announcement of the results) are now out and one can study them and analyse the results.

When the election was announced some of those who had been politicians in the past years announced they would not be contesting again. The country has not yet thanked them for their work. They must understand they have not been cast on the dunghill of history. The country still needs their advice and expertise.

Following the announcement of the results some politicians announced they are withdrawing from the political scene, including some who had been protagonists in the past years. Again, the country has not really thanked them for their work, a pity given the taint of failure that lurks in the background in such cases.

Next, the successful ones. Being elected gives one a boost unlike any other. It’s not just being called “Onorevoli” and being granted access to the Piano House, but also a realisation one can at last do something for those who had voted for him (or her).

Then there are those who have not been successful even though ours is the biggest parliament, proportionally speaking, in Europe. For some, this would have been their first attempt. There is one lesson that those who have passed this way earlier can give them: don’t give up. Many of our best politicians began life, politically speaking, with a defeat or two. That’s how Eddie Fenech Adami, to name but one, began his political career.

There is no simple, all-encompassing reason to explain why people voted and again why people did not. Sometimes it is due to the character of the candidate – does he inspire trust? Sometimes a stand the candidate takes goes counter to the popular trend at the time. Sometimes, true, there’s a group conspiring against him.

I find, the latest results bear me out, that people many expected to see returned did not make it. And also people many expected to fail turned up as winners. The morale of the story: never give up. Analyse what went wrong and correct it.

And stay around. Politics in Malta offers many opportunities and not just at election times. The past legislature offers us many examples (unfortunately) – people resigning, people getting promoted... The wheel of fortune turns and turns again.

Meanwhile we can all do with a dose of humility. And using this fallow time to further one’s studies and expertise. Perhaps one gets a different and improved take on life and on the problems of this people. But never, ever, attribute bad intentions to others, even if true.

Meanwhile too one learns to shift the true friends from the fake ones and in many cases one can find that the people surrounding one were the real cause of the failure.

[email protected]