Recently a journalist asked "where is the sparkle in the PN's politics?"

This set me thinking and asking "can there be any sparkle in politics?"

Politicians and political leaders come and go just like street cars. Since Independence, Malta has had the luck to come across a few very good leaders and politicians who left a positive mark on the Island but we have also had the misfortune of experiencing a few terrible ones. The country would have fared so much better without the latter.

Democracy is a beautiful political medium but it is also a very fragile one, and just like anything that is precious and beautiful it must be taken care of, safeguarded and defended on a daily basis, since there will always be politicians who will try to abuse of it and possibly even destroy it.

It is so sad when leaders dupe their faithful followers and play the populistic game for the glory of power.  It is even sadder when leaders rob their own country and squander the country's assets, dish out cheques to people who did not earn them or even deserve to receive them, pay hefty sums to incompetent people, and overload the State's work force with unnecessary and unproductive workers that cost the country millions of euro on an annual basis. 

It is so sad when a government causes inequality and a deep divide between the very rich and the very poor. It is so sad when politicians think about their personal gain and popularity at the cost of the citizens. It is so sad when politicians abuse of the media to make what is wrong appear as though it is right. It is so sad when politicians are deceitful. It is so sad when politicians attempt to weaken democracy.

I admit that times are changing rapidly and it may well be that even the way that politics is presented and delivered may need to change. Politics may be subject to the whims of fashion too.

But one thing never changes and that is that what is wrong remains wrong and what is right remains right. There are no two ways about this and politicians who abuse of this will be damned forever. Populistic politicians make it in the short run but fail miserably in the long run, leaving their country in agony. History has never forgiven and will never forgive populist politicians.

But of course there is a sparkle in politics!  The sparkle is about understanding the signs of the times. It is about creating wealth and distributing it fairly. It is about empowering people and making them less dependent on the state. It is about creating a level playing field, a strong judicial system and good governance. It is about offering all citizens an advanced and refined education and health system. It is about modernising the economy and training its work force to embrace change.

It is about being compassionate and understanding, sensitive to the needs of those facing difficulties and ruthless with those who abuse the system. It is about striking a balance between development and the environment, creating easily accessible open green spaces, sports, cultural and recreational facilities. It is about offering youngsters a steady future full of opportunities at home, and about ensuring that senior citizens enjoy respect and tranquillity.

Above all it is about politicians who think less about the 'I' and more about 'you'. 

In my opinion the PN has these qualities at heart. The present PL administration has made an absolute mess of politics. Their populistic and insensitive governance coupled with the squandering of public finances and disastrous economic decisions have taken the country in the wrong direction and they definitely should not be allowed to create more damage to this beautiful Island of ours. 

The time of reckoning is fast approaching. We must steer this country in the right direction once again. Only the PN can do this. 

Noel Muscat is mayor of Swieqi