Recently, I participated in a seminar organised by the Gozo Regional Development Authority to discuss a very good report prepared by Professor Godfrey Baldacchino about the options that could be considered for Gozo to move towards autonomy in its governance. The report gave the historical background to how Gozo was governed over the centuries. But perhaps more importantly, it also opened a very wide perspective on how in the various islands and archipepelagoes around the world, regional autonomy is being implemented. The variety of options that have been deployed is indeed very impressive.
I always believed the issue of a greater autonomy for Gozo is one that Gozitans consider to be at the heart of what most interests Gozitan people. The same would not apply to Gozitan politicans of both parties as well as to civil servants, even if the contrary is said for the sake of appearances.
A similar point was made by one of the seminar participants (a Gozitan). He noted how though the attendance was respectable, none of the elected local or national representatives from Gozo were present.
***
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT
The next German government (assuming the rank and file of the respective parties agree) led by the christian democrat Friedrich Merz, will be a coalition between two parties, not three like under the outgoing chancellor, the socialist Olaf Scholz. He had great difficulty to maintain agreement between the parties in his government.
Under the Merz coalition, it is assumed that matters will be easier to run. If anything, the two parties will have hammered out a very detailed action programme during weeks of hard negotiations. Still, difficulties could arise. Members of the new chancellor's party, especially in its youth wing have been grumbling he has given up too much to the socialists. On the socialist side, there is disquiet about how the party has given up too many of its principled positions, mainly on climate and some of the social chapters.
At present Germany is facing less than attractive prospects. The economy is faltering badly. The tariff trouble being created by the US administration is serving to trigger greater problems. The country needs a stable, compact government..
***
TAXES AND GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
The political right in Europe and the Americas, not least the extreme populists, clamours for less taxes and less government expenditures.
On the first count, cuts in income, property and capital taxes are being targeted. Which mean cuts in the taxes the rich and the super rich have to pay. (But then President Trump is introducing new tariffs, which are hardly better than taxes on consumption and with a greater impact on lower income families). By lower government expenditures, the right surely must mean reductions in social expenditures, for they do not want to touch military commitments, unless it is to increase them. So, what's being proposed and implemented are lighter burdens on those who are enjoying a very nice, easy life and more burdens on those who are already carrying lots of them
What's also curious is that quite a substantial part of the support the right attracts comes from social strata which are not doing well.