A few days ago I was shopping with my seven-year-old daughter in one of Malta's shopping centres, when a middle-aged man I didn't know, with an apparent penchant for a laugh, cheekily shouted 'Viva l-Labour' in my general direction, much to the amusement of those in his company. While innocuous and perhaps a bit of light fun, I found myself reflecting on the harmless episode which, let's face it reflects quite an old fashioned, yet predominant outlook towards politics.
Granted, I am an easily recognisable public figure. I have been in the public eye for most of my adult life, and my venturing into politics may have rendered me even more of an easy target for this sort of behaviour. Experience teaches you to take it in your stride, and make of it a learnable moment.
However this tiny anecdote got me thinking on how immature, in certain aspects, we still are about politics. Let's be clear, I am not singling out that particular gentleman for his behaviour; rather, us politicians also have a thing or two to reflect on in this realm of things.
For too long have we actually profited and benefited from these harshly and indelibly drawn lines of party loyalty. We have all done it, on both sides, and it is time that we mature from this school-playground-grade of politics to something more dignified and deserving of a mature, modern democracy.
Our electorate has been sending the signals, they yearn for something better for many, many years now. Survey after survey, a growing numbers of people declare they find no party worthy of their support, and yet we dig our heels deeper into the soil in antiquated narratives of us and them, fuelled by partisan party propaganda.
The electorate is yearning so desperately for the country to move on from this, that it even trusted Joseph Muscat's 2013 never-kept promise of 'Tista' ma taqbilx maghna, imma tista' tahdem maghna' (It's possible you do not agree with us, but you can still work with us). Sadly, we didn't need to wait too long to realise that it was only a cheap, convenient catch-phrase he had no intention on delivering on.
I have always thought that many Maltese view politics with the same passionate dedication as sports fans do. Their loyalty, no matter how badly their team performs, while admirable, a healthy discussion, does not contribute towards.
We must move on from this. Our electorate demands it, and the current democratic process which is ensuing within the Nationalist Party is the perfect opportunity to sow the seeds for this quality leap.
My appeal to the new leader of the PN, whoever they may be, is that they should look beyond party politics, and lead, from day one, as a statesperson of national standing. The new leader must inspire a new generation of electors, who are not interested in the easy yet tired narratives of old. They want a leader who can provide a credible and comprehensive vision for a country that can take on the challenges of the times.
The new leader should energise the party to set the agenda, rather than react to whatever the government decides to discuss or alienate the public debate with. To do this, we must be closer than ever to the electorate, to really understand what their worries and ambitions are.
We must be the party that provides the out-of-the-box ideas, and daring solutions, to real problems such as over population, traffic, environmental concerns, air quality, over-development and many other issues that continue to nibble at our families' quality of life. We need to do this, with courage and in no uncertain terms.
The PN has done this before, when it was capable of attracting a broad church of thought and politics, bringing on board a colourful rainbow of ideas and ideologies. When the party aspired to grow beyond its party lines and become a movement for good, it was successful.
Only this way can the Nationalist Party aspire to be a credible alternative government that catches the imagination of a nation.
Julie Zahra is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Cultural Heritage, Arts, and Culture