Today is Malta's Independence Day, but this year, the celebrations bring with them an added value, with the Nationalist Party going through a moment of deep renewal, as the newly elected leader Alex Borg takes on the reins of the party. As I have done already, I reiterate my best wishes to Alex.
This year's celebrations couldn't have come at a more opportune time, as party and country reflect on what sort of Malta we want to live in, in the future, and if we are truly on track to reach our ambitions.
When our forefathers pushed for Independence, they were not seeking short-term applause or temporary fixes. They knew that Malta could only prosper if its fate was determined by her own people. That was the central theme of a strong movement, which lay the foundations for a nation that could stand on its own feet, build its own economy, and shape its own society.
When George Borg Olivier and his associates fought for Independence, they looked beyond the next electoral cycle, but they thought of generations ahead. They believed that Malta deserved dignity, self-determination, and a future of opportunity.
Sixty-one years later, we must ask ourselves, are we living up to that vision?
The truth is that in many respects we have come a very long way, each administration contributing in its own way to the development of the country. Yet in some others, we have fallen short, and I suspect we would disappoint those visionary men and women of 1964, had they to see where Malta stands today.
Certainly, Malta's economy has grown and diversified, our infrastructure is unrecognisable, and opportunities are broader than ever before. However, while the country's development remains crucial, new challenges of the times have also developed, and unfortunately Government appears to be out of ideas on how to address them and solve them.
Challenges relating to the country's economic model which is showing serious signs of fatigue, and which has resulted in issues of overpopulation we can no longer ignore. Challenges of standard of living, which necessitate an average family to take up multiple jobs to provide a decent living for their dependents. Challenges of mental health, which is increasingly becoming a serious concern.
Unfortunately, the government appears to be more interested in pandering to the immediate trends, rather than look at the larger, more long-term picture. Too often, decisions are not made depending on what Malta will need in ten or twenty years, but they are too often based on what earns quick popularity at the polls.
This short-termism is corrosive. It is why we see half-baked policies launched for headlines rather than outcomes. It is why environmental degradation continues despite endless promises. It is why housing remains unaffordable for many young families, despite endless slogans. And it is why our public entities, which should be the fortress that defends our citizens, are often disappointing to say the least.
Populist politics thrives on easy answers. It tells people what they want to hear, not what they need to confront. It silences criticism and rewards praise, while avoiding the harder work of long-term reform. It creates dependency instead of empowerment. And slowly, it erodes the very values of independence. Because a truly independent country is one where its people think critically, plan courageously, and invest responsibly in the future.
Independence was never about comfort. It was about courage. Our parents and grandparents embraced uncertainty to carve out a future for us. Now it is our turn. We cannot afford to settle for politics that treats every challenge as a PR exercise.
We must take this unique opportunity, and bring about the generational change that will look beyond the five-year cycle and thinks instead of the Malta of tomorrow.
Happy Independence Day to everyone.
Alexander Mangion is Deputy Mayor of Attard