opinion

Why doing nothing will lead to another defeat, dear Eddie

It’s time to do some soul-searching and reshuffling, says SAVIOUR BALZAN

Some days before the local council elections, Pieta-based press statements issued a decree that the political leanings of the electorate in the 22 local councils were Labour.

It failed to remind us that in 1999, the Nationalist party had won hands down.

We were reminded over and over again that the vast majority were Labourite and therefore it followed that we should not expect any victories for the Nationalists. We were being prepared for the sweet feeling of defeat.

When the results did finally appear on Sunday morning, the extent of the Labour victory was much greater than that expected by the Nationalist party.

But the worst was yet to come. When the Prime Minister, as is customary, held a press conference to pass his verdict on the result, there was a complete reversal of last year’s position.

No need to worry, was the message he passed on.

This time he was scorned upon by many of his Nationalist folk, who could not believe that their Prime Minister could have stated such a thing.

Politicians with the unfortunate job of presiding over a mid-term negative result cannot publicly admit defeat. To do so in the Latin, Mediterranean and Maltese context is a mistake, but to minimise the extent of a defeat is also unacceptable.

And this is what happened last Sunday evening.

If the Prime Minister has not been told, then he should know that many Nationalists, those that could have traded their mothers for the downfall of Labour in the past, are resigned to a Labour victory at the polls.

There is a gut feeling that the Nationalist government has landed itself in quicksand and is helpless.

To make matters worse, the boys at Pieta have been quite helpful in accelerating the sinking potential in this scenario.

Over the last few weeks we were forced to experience the stupid and banal campaign on Zebbug, which was tackled like some boy scout adventure project.

It was, in a sense, a feeling of what was to come.

Then there was this unbelievable argument, which read: the local council election results are proof of the people’s faith in the Nationalist party.

What utter rubbish.

When will the Nationalists stop believing that everyone is queuing to thank them for having provided them with the goods? Which is confirmation that the boys at Pieta are short of imagination and political intrigue (at least beyond the confines of the Nationalist party).

Now, I can live with a statement by the Prime Minister which goes like this: "No need to panic, I promise things will get better."

But only, and only if the Prime Minister proves that he doing something to address this "will get better", promise.

I won’t give a hoot, if the Nationalists are in government next time round. I can live with a Labour government, but I cannot live without the knowledge that we are part of Europe.

As things are turning out the Labour party has a very good chance of winning both the referendum and election.

Those in the Nationalist party who believe that this will not happen are the same ones who believed they could win in 1996.

These silly attacks on the Labour party must stop, and the party administration must get to grips with a fighting strategy that respects the electorate. Perhaps, the Nationalist have not realised that their worst enemy is themselves.

The first concern is the PN’s media products, which should be improved. It cannot continue functioning with journalists who believe that they’ve got it, when they simply haven’t.

The second is the need to address the issue of the dissemination of information on PBS, and here again, it is about time that the government realises that the key to success is the type of news that is recycled at PBS.
The third is for the party to do some soul-searching and reshuffling.

Even though in the PN as in any other Maltese political party this does not appear to be a normal practice, for some reason.

At ministerial level, the Prime Minister must take the bull by the horns.

He must credit those who have delivered and those who have not should be moved out; new blood is needed desperately.

And no, I am not referring to Pullicino Orlando but to other dedicated MPs such as Jean Pierre Farrugia, Tony Abela, Dolores Cristina and Helena D’Amato.

If the Prime Minister thinks that he is going to move public opinion with smiles and brave statements he is very wrong.

The Labour party has a wonderful playing field ahead of them with countless goalposts and no referees.

The first goalpost is the Nationalist campaign machinery, the second is the PN media, the third is economic revival, the fourth is the lack of apparent governance and the fifth is the sensation that nothing is going to change.

There is no doubt in my mind that Alfred Sant’s politics will not be of advantage to Malta, but in the present situation, his propositions are palatable and manna from heaven.

Ignoring this would be dangerous, and if we stay out of Europe it will be to the credit of the Nationalist Party and its cockiness and arrogance.