Power in any society is never just concentrated in one individual or group. It is exercised through different channels, the most obvious ones being political, economic and social in nature. Cultural, religious and communications channels could also be considered as relevant to the exercise of power though in fact, they really form part of the “social” context.

But then too there exist networks of personal relationships spread out across all societies. Family ties plus others that derive among others from educational and training experiences, or professional practice; from economic and financial interests; from friendships and religious beliefs. People who acknowledge each other as being part of these ties will quite “naturally” find that they are adopting the same point of view when needing to decide what had best be done. If they are placed within the elites that determine how the power channels function, they will above all, share the same  perspective in political affairs, as well as in other areas. 

Over the years, this was always a problem for the Labour Party. The elites which dominated the economic and social channels were part of the traditional networks of personal relationships prevailing on the island.

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MAYDAY

It appears that both main parties are giving importance this year to May Day celebrations. The emphasis as of now has been on the occasion as workers’ day. No doubt, some will wrap it up as well in a commemoration of when Malta became a full member of the EU.

Personally I see no merit in this addition (and hold this view against the trend of current political fashions which go in a totally opposite direction...)

In any event, I regard as positive the new attention that is being given to the working class and the state it is in. This constitutes an advance on the steps back taken in past years, by which the interests of workers were relegated to third or fourth place behind that of the middle class. The interests of the latter are certainly important but their salience has become excessive.

Naturally I have my opinion regarding which of the two main political parties in Malta is really the defender of working class interests; but that’s another story.

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PRESIDENCY

A certain disquet has become evident regarding what could happen when the nomination of a new President becomes due. Given the constitutional rule that was introduced recently, a nomination needs a two thirds vote in favour in Parliament for it to go forward. There’s a big chance that such an agreement will not be reached.

As a solution (which clearly would itself need a two thirds vote in favour) it has been suggested that when this happens, the decision should be hived off to an “autonomous” council made up of individuals who in the past would have reached some prominence in running political, legal or commercial systems.

I disagree. For sure, such a mechanism would be weighted down with a load of personal ties developed by members of the traditional elites. The only solution that is politically valid would be similar to what, based on the Italian model, has been established for the nomination of the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards.  Following the holding of two votes that would depend on a two thirds majority in favour, the third vote would be decided on a majority basis.