Interview

A veteran politician, but no has-been

POLITICAL VETERAN, MICHAEL REFALO, SPEAKS TO KURT SANSONE ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE EU AND INDEPENDENCE DEBATES, THE PRIME MINISTER’S MAY DAY SPEECH AND HOW HE FEELS ABOUT SUGGESTIONS THAT CABINET ELDERS SHOULD STEP ASIDE FOR NEW FACES

It has been a lifetime of politics for Tourism minister Michael Refalo. With almost 40 years of campaigning, getting elected and making his voice heard, he is a walking history book of the transition Malta has undergone since Independence.

For Dr Refalo, 21 September 1964 stands out as the most remarkable event in his political career. Today he is the only Member of Parliament, along with the Prime Minister, to have been politically involved in the campaign for independence.

He recalls how, at that time, people were wary of independence. "They felt ‘safe’ living in a colony," he explains. "Our job was to explain that it was not all black but that there was light at the end of the tunnel. To motivate them and explain the vision of independence."

He explains that people were being told that Malta would crumble without the British, but adds that the Nationalist Party had always had faith in the people.

The Sliema-born veteran politician drew parallels between the scenario prior to independence and the current situation vis-á-vis European Union membership.

"Today, we have renewed faith in the people," he says. "We will succeed even though the Labour Party has mounted a scaremongering campaign and even though I believe that the government should have already kicked off an intense pro-EU campaign."

Turning to the argument of sovereignty, Dr Refalo insists that none of the EU founding members have lost their sovereignty.

"It is a question of sharing your sovereignty with other countries," he argues. "After all, the meaning of sovereignty is also a thought process of evolution."

He admits that some small traders fear membership, relaying their fear that the EU will "gobble them up".

"In this respect, it is important education is made available on the issue," he adds.

And paraphrasing an English saying to emphasise the need to persevere in this respect he continues: "If the horse won’t go to the water to drink, we have to take the water to the horse."

The Labour Party’s decision not to recognise the EU referendum result practically means that the EU issue will be decided at the next general election and this has given rise to speculation on whether the next general election will be held before or after the referendum.

Dr Refalo said that it was useless speculating on dates, as this was the Prime Minister’s prerogative.

"We have pledged to hold a referendum on EU membership and I am convinced that we will win the referendum," is all he would say. "Furthermore, I see no reason why those who vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum would also not vote for the PN in the general election."

Turning to Eddie Fenech Adami’s forthright May Day speech, Dr Refalo stresses that he agreed with what the Prime Minister said. They certainly are made of the same mettle.

Nonetheless, Dr Refalo lamented the government’s failure to communicate sufficiently with the people.

"The people are there, in front of us and we must reach out to them and meet their expectations," he says. "The mindsets of 1987 are over and politicians must realise this.

"Unfortunately we (the government) appear to take things for granted and do not communicate enough, even though everybody in the Cabinet works and pushes hard to achieve results."

I ask the minister whether the current discord is just about the lack of communication and he admits it is one aspect, but not the sole problem.

"We have taken many decisions which hurt people," he explains. "However, one has to ask what is good for the country. There are principles at stake and choices to be made."

Dr Refalo then goes on to explore some grievances that had given rise to the grumbling the Prime Minister spoke about, while defending the famous speech.

"Should we scrap the wardens, allow illegal boathouses to stand, close an eye to people abusing social services?" Dr Refalo asks.

But what about the income tax issue, I ask.

Prior to the 1998 election Eddie Fenech Adami had said that the Nationalist Party would not ‘touch’ income tax….

"The income tax pledge was never an electoral promise," the minister answers. "Dr Fenech Adami had said that during an interview. It was never in the manifesto. The situation, being as it is, means that we either take the medicine today while we are still in time or else perish."

The next question begged. Why did the PN act differently in opposition when Alfred Sant was trying to tackle the same fiscal problems?

"We agreed with the Labour government that the problem existed, but we disagreed with the way Dr Sant attempted to tackle it," he replies.

Since the March local council elections, the media has been asking for a Cabinet reshuffle to give new impetus to the government. Dr Refalo’s name has been bandied about as a possible minister who should make way for fresher faces. This did not surprise him at all. "Although decisions should be taken on one’s performance, I am not surprised. At my age what do you expect?" he asks with a smile on his face.

But on a serious note, he adds: "A reshuffle will not solve the current problems. However, that is the Prime Minister’s prerogative, I am there to serve and for nothing else".

But does he personally feel his time is up?

"When the time comes every person should be prepared to step down. However I feel that I still have something to offer," he answers. "Two months ago, the PN invited me to contest the next general election and I accepted.

"But I would stress that at the end of the day I am part of a team and definitely not here for my own personal pride or status."

What about the leadership race and John Dalli’s recent declaration that he will contest the leadership position when it becomes vacant?

Dr Refalo chose his words carefully, not committing himself to either Lawrence Gonzi or John Dalli.

"It gives me great pleasure to see so many of my colleagues ready to take up the challenge of leadership," he answers. "It will not be a two-man race. There are other interested contenders. However, everything is hypothetical at this stage because the post is not vacant and I will make my decisions in due course."

Tourism is Dr Refalo’s pet subject and he immediately becomes animated when the subject is brought up.

"My vision is to continue pressing for change, in mentality and outlook. Not just that of the tourism operators but also the public," he stresses.

Dr Refalo wants to see the public support the industry with more effort – not just lip service. Furthermore, he laments the problem of over-protectionism although he acknowledges that this has gradually decreased over the years.

Dr Refalo firmly believes that Malta must venture into different tourism markets that can provide the vital numbers for the industry to be viable in the winter months.

"The proposed Formula One track is a prime example of diversification, as are golf courses, walking and riding tracks in Gozo," he says.

And while on the environmentally sensitive issue of golf courses, Dr Refalo explains that Malta needs at least two golf courses of international standard.

"We can attract foreign golf enthusiasts in the winter months when the European courses are frozen," he says. "I have campaigned for environmental sustainable tourism development. However, the environment is not the ‘be all and end all’ of everything. The Planning Authority should decide whether the Rabat golf course application is acceptable or not. The application cannot wait indefinitely."

Returning to the EU issue, Dr Refalo emphasises that membership would benefit the industry.

"Membership will also give Air Malta more flexibility and increased competition would be healthy," he explains.

It is only natural to ask a politician who lived through the turbulent eighties about the theories that have surfaced recently that part of the violence was orchestrated by Nationalist ‘agents provocateurs’.

"I am not conscious of any similar facts. I was in the inner circles of the party and definitely there was nothing of the sort going on at official level. However, I cannot exclude anything done by some misguided individual!" he replies.

Dr Refalo gives credit to the Opposition leader for controlling violent elements within the Labour Party, at least till 1998.

"I hope the scenario will not change as the MLP tries to reach down to its former roots," he says. "At the end of the day, only time will tell whether Alfred Sant is successful or not in controlling the violent elements of the Labour Party."

When the post for President of the Republic was up for grabs in 1999, Dr Refalo’s name was mentioned as a possible contender by the media.

A smile immediately comes to his face.

"My remaining ambition is to see Malta in the EU," he says. "I laughed at the speculation and the comments about the Presidency, because Professor Guido De Marco was the obvious choice. At the time we had a parliamentary secretary in the foreign affairs ministry, something which we never had before. In fact, today we only have a foreign minister."

A couple of months ago while inaugurating a garden in Sliema, Dr Refalo kneeled down before the cameras and begged the public to look after the garden and the environment. It was a stunt that made journalists present smile, especially since Dr Refalo is known for his sense of humour.

"There is nothing wrong in laughing at what I do," he says. "Even in my writings I constantly keep a humorous vein. I try to do my work seriously and well. But then one should also be able to laugh at oneself. Taking life seriously all the time would leave little time to enjoy it to the full."

Photos by Pippa Zammit Cutajar