How meaningful is it for the “little” in size to deal  and compete with the big ones – in sport, the economy, diplomacy?

Everybody pays lip service to the dictum that “little” communities and nations should be afforded equal space and consideration as the “big” ones. In reality we frequently see how this principle gets weakened or massaged in ways that soon sideline the “little” ones.

For to be honest, it’s only fair to also ask: Why should a “few” have the same voice as others who form part of a much larger population? Especially when as very often happens during sports events, encounters between the “big” and the “little” are experienced as a waste of time with the outcomes being all too predictable and of minimal interest.

In the European Union such concerns are also being raised though they are expressed less bluntly. It is being argued that certain decisions which need to be taken should not be postponed because of the veto posted by the “few”. This holds even more if the Union intends to accept new members.

Adoption of major decisions, even strategic ones, should be subject to a qualified majority. So it is claimed. No doubt such an approach would weaken the role of the “little” states even while a belief in the equality between nations continues to be proclaimed.

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EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

Moves towards the organization of European elections in June 2024 have kicked off. In Malta, the indications as of now are that political parties will be facing the challenge of successfully bringing their supporters out to vote. The side which best succeeds in curbing abstentionism will fare best.

In countries with an electoral system different to that of Malta’s the emphasis at present is on the preparation of electoral lists of candidates. Those placed at the top of the list have the better chances of getting elected. I know MEPs who are already certain of re-election as they got the first placing on their party’s list.

The most outrageous spin developed yet about these elections was invented by French President Macron. He suggested that a number of constituencies could be created on a “transnational” basis with parts of one country attached to regions of another member state. Like say parts of Malta (or the whole island for that matter) brought into one constituency with parts of Croatia. All I still can say about this is: what a crazy idea!

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THE ELECTROGAS POWER STATION

Joseph Muscat’s appearance at the Malta Parliament’s public accounts committee last week surely achieved at least one thing. Beyond the reports about scandals, true or false, regarding the Electrogas outfit, there came a recall about how the plant completely changed the scenario by which the island is supplied with electric power.

Here, the impact of Electrogas had been mainly projected in terms of the decrease in the local price of energy to consumers but there was a much deeper effect. Enemalta was then a financial wreck and a huge deadweight on public finances. It had been like so since before the 2008 electon but the Gonzi administration did next to nothing about this.

As soon as the Electrogas agreement came into force, government finances could recover. One only needs to read the reports about Malta which were issued at the time by the International Monetary Fund to follow how the situation changed completely practically overnight.