One cannot deny that in Malta cases still exist of families which are doing  badly and cannot cope. Their problems must be attended to and their welfare should be a social priority for the government and the community as a whole. But for the majority of our population - and a sizeable majority at that - the situation has improved, even significantly, and is still doing so, at least in financial and economic terms. There is no point in denying this basic fact.

It is evidenced by the ongoing brisk sales and strong competition in the retail sector - which  today is dominated by the big supermarkets and the branded retail chains. People seem to be having more and more money in their pockets - though this way of seeing things has become quite anachronistic since most payments are now being made electronically. Domestic consumption has indeed remained a main motor driving the economy. It is powered by government spending and tourism. We've been wondering for quite a while about whether this momentum can be maintained. On the basis of diverse criteria, it cannot be considered as sustainable. Yet up to now, it has not failed. And according to the most recent forecasts, it should continue...

Discrimination

What a pity that the project for a constitutional change enabling the setting up of a national commission on human rights and equality did not make it through Parliament. Whatever reasons were advanced that led to this, the outcome will not do us any good. The creation of the commission would have sent a strong signal to confirm that human rights will truly have an effective shield here, one that independently of the government machine, ensures they are being fully respected.

A number of sectors presented their objections against the commission as it was being proposed, and a good percentage among them sounded genuine. Even so, the doubt (or suspicion) still remains: is there a fundamental problem, caused by the belief of some people that if we could do without the commission (like we have done up to now), what need is there to create it?

Populists and the rich

It's a paradox: Populist parties find their best support among less well-off citizens. Suspicious of all those... foreigners or luckier fellow citizens... whom they consider to be taking an unfair advantage over them, they find consolation and refuge in the vigorous rhetoric of  right or left wing populists, as it ties in with their grievances.

A not insignificant part of their complaints could be justified though not necessarily for the reasons they imagine. So, they are attracted by the populist claims to very very quickly, implement  tough and simple action programmes that will wipe out their worries.

However, when populists achieve power or come close to it, the measures they adopt favour most blatantly social strata that are doing very well. This conclusion applies to Trump in the US, to Milei in Argentina, and on to Meloni in Italy and even Farage in the UK. It's difficult to understand how movements which are built on the fears and disappointments of people with a modest income, end up as the biggest prop for the very rich who quite likely, are responsible for those issues in society which trigger most fear and discontent.