The role of the leader of the opposition is a constitutional one by virtue of Article 90 of our constitution, and is one that forms part of the Executive. It is a role that carries with it duties and responsibilities, not to mention high expectations.

The position of Leader of the Opposition may be described as the worst job in politics. Certainly not an enviable one. Such a leader is seen by the electorate as a potential Prime Minister in waiting. Consequently, the effectiveness of that role is all about gaining or regaining power. Yet, the ability to gain or regain power is dependent upon the interaction between his or her political skills and the political circumstances being faced. Now that the PN has been electing or opting for more than one new leader, it has had Bernard Grech as leader for quite some time, so, perhaps, it is apt to analyse his politics of effective or ineffective opposition leadership.

Just like any party leader, the political skills that are expected from a leader of the opposition are the ability to initiate and implement policy change. In this sense, Bernard Grech is lagging behind, as we have hardly seen any significant policy changes within the PN. What about his ability at party management? Now here is one area where he definitely scores low, externally demonstrating party unity while everyone knows that, internally, there is chronic party mismanagement. So, too, does his proficiency in terms of public communication fall conspicuously short of expectations. There are other aspects that Grech needs to polish up, among which, are his personality factors, including emotional intelligence.

Of course, there are other circumstances, beyond his control, that impact Grech, such as the performance of the incumbent government and the length of time that Robert Abela has been in power. It is for this reason, perhaps, that Grech has been waiting for some kind of trigger in the hope of transforming himself into a successful leader of the opposition. Perhaps an economic crisis, policy failure, party divisions or scandal to exploit, and his ability to exploit should be greater once the labour government has been in power for quite some time now.

Effective opposition involves demonstrating that the PN has changed in policy terms and repositioned itself towards the centre ground of Maltese politics, but this process should be agreed upon within the party and, in this context, the PN, under Grech’s leadership, is still works in progress. Change needs to be demonstrated, and this demands that the Leader of the Opposition is an effective communicator and that he can demonstrate his credibility through his performances in Parliament, in interviews and in speeches, something we have not been witnessing at all lately. Grech is expected to face considerable scrutiny and criticism, so high levels of emotional intelligence and resilience are required, but which he has been sadly lacking.

Undoubtedly, leading the opposition is an extraordinarily difficult job. In fact, it is at least four different jobs at the same time, each of which needs different skills. First, there is the immediate task of opposition, challenging the government, holding it to account, and scrutinising legislation. That role is particularly sensitive at a moment of crisis of whatever type, but it is also especially important. At a time when the government is running away with its political hubris, it is more necessary than ever that someone holds its powers to account.

The second key job is party management. As leader of the Nationalist Party, Bernard Grech has to run an organisation with a recent history of fratricidal warfare. He needs to keep the party’s members engaged while negotiating some kind of peace between the PN’s warring factions. He must also lead the party’s response to the reports that analysed the last two consecutive and heavy electoral defeats, and redeem himself.

Third, there is a campaigning role. A leader of the opposition must always be preparing for the next election, building popular support, energising the party, and moving public opinion onto Nationalist ground.

Finally, if everything else goes well, the leader of the opposition is a PM-in-waiting. He must be ready to govern and must build a compelling programme for government. A cabinet of ministers can never get all decisions right. Having someone whose job it is to ask uncomfortable questions, to make sure that information is in the public domain, and to give a voice to those who might have been shut out of decision-making, is not a distraction from government. It is how we get good government.

Within the PN there are voices with real expertise in healthcare, procurement, and economic management, who can speak with authority on such vital subjects and more. Grech should be working to amplify those voices in national decision-making, as a means not only to challenge government policy, but also to help improve it.

The ability to marry good storytelling with good policymaking was perhaps the greatest challenge of this government. Yet, with the passing of time, it turned out to be politics only about story-telling, with the result being a PR strategy instead of a government. But a leader of the opposition with a party that can tell a story that links the present to a better future, and that sets out a credible policy route for getting there, can do big things in office and build lasting democratic consent. That is the challenge for Grech and the PN today. It is also his opportunity.

So leading the opposition is not so much a job as a multiple personality crisis. It is a difficult role at the best of times, and the combination of a hostile media environment with the party’s long enthusiasm for conspiratorialism makes it especially challenging for Bernard Grech. Above all, he must remember that opposition should never be sabotage or treachery. On the contrary, constructive opposition must be not only a public service but also a democratic duty, leading to one of the best safeguards we have for good government.

If there is one political lesson that the PN needs to relearn, it is the case for constructive opposition.

Dr Mark Said is a lawyer