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James Debono
Winning an overall majority in next March’s local elections is not the declared target of any of the two major parties’ secretary generals.
PN secretary Joe Saliba’s mark of success will be that of electing the same number of councillors elected back in 2003: “Since these are local elections one cannot use the same overall percentage benchmark used in general elections. The only benchmark is the number of council seats held.”
The PN had elected 78 councillors against Labour’s 77, whilst third party Alternattiva Demokratika managed to elect three councillors.
On the other hand, Labour secretary general Jason Micallef’s aim is simply that of improving the party’s performance in 2003.
Citing the fact that the largest localities in these elections, namely Birkirkara, Naxxar and Sliema are Nationalist strongholds, Micallef insists that Labour must be realistic in its expectations.
Joe Saliba concurs that the largest localities tend to vote for the PN but he also adds that this round also includes a large Labour locality, Zabbar, and a large number of smaller Labour strongholds.
Election hopes
Back in 2003 the PN had won a relative majority of 49 per cent against the MLP’s 47 per cent. But there is one big notable difference between this year’s election and that held in 2003.
On that occasion local elections were held on the same day in which a majority had voted yes in a referendum on whether Malta should join the European Union. The concurrence of these two electoral appointments pushed the turnout in these local elections to a record 88 per cent from the average 70 per cent in other rounds of elections.
On that occasion the PN was riding on the crest of support for EU membership, an issue which galvanised its core support.
Saliba expects a lower turnout this time round, adding that this would make comparisons with 2003 difficult.
But Jason Micallef says that since elections are being held in the same localities as in 2003, comparing the 2003 and 2006 results is only natural.
He also claims that like any other local elections, this election can gauge the government’s national popularity at the moment.
Saliba is more wary, saying that the PN emphasises the local nature of these elections.
AD secretary general Stephen Cachia also acknowledges that in local elections, more people are likely to vote for AD than in a national election when the country’s government is at stake.
Cachia aims at consolidating 2003’s results by defending the three Green council seats in Sliema, Birkirkara and Lija. But he also expects his party to make inroads in the Gozitan locality of Sannat where the party is riding high on opposition to the development of villas in Ta’Cenc.
While in 2003 the Greens had fielded candidates in eight localities, AD is now fielding candidates in five.
AD will be absent in Marsascala, Naxxar and Kalkara, previously contested in 2003. Cachia admits the difficulty in finding valid candidates who are willing to stand up and be counted by contesting these elections.
Party loyalties
The secretary-generals of the two traditional parties do not expect any locality to shift from one side to another.
Judging by 2003’s results, the locality with the thinnest majority is Labour-led Rabat. Back then Labour had overturned a Nationalist majority by winning by just 290 votes. Joe Saliba is not optimistic on winning back this locality.
“We had not managed to win this locality in 2003 when we were contesting under more favourable circumstances due to the concurrent referendum,” he admits.
Asked whether the controversy surrounding parliamentary secretary Tony Abela is thwarting Nationalist attempts to win back Rabat, Saliba defended the parliamentary secretary.
“Tony Abela is popular for his work in the locality. The MLP’s campaign could irritate Rabat voters who know Abela.”
Saliba adds that the ineffectiveness of the Labour-led council would have a greater bearing on these elections than Labour’s attacks on Abela.
Jason Micallef excludes any relationship between the MLP’s media onslaught on Tony Abela and the Rabat local elections campaign. He insists that the MLP was simply reporting facts on Tony Abela’s connections and has even provided visual evidence showing Abela accepting a private appointment in breach of the code of ethics regulating ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
But Micallef excludes this will have an effect on Rabat voters. “I do not think that this will be a consideration of Rabat citizens when voting for their local council. They will be voting for us because of the work we have done in this locality.”
Grassroots action
The performance of AD in localities like Sliema and independent candidates like Josie Muscat in Marsaskala will have a bearing on the results of these elections.
Referring to former Labour activist Pawlu Muscat’s poor performance in the 2003 elections as an independent, Saliba contends that independents make less inroads amongst the MLP’s electorate.
Asked on his reaction to former Nationalist MP Josie Muscat’s candidature heading an independent’s list in Marsaskala, Saliba said that the participation of independents enhances democracy.
But Saliba acknowledges that independents like Josie Muscat and third parties tend to win more votes from the Nationalist party than from the Labour Party.
Another key election where AD is playing a major role is that in Nationalist stronghold Sliema. The local election in Sliema is poised to be a major test for the Nationalist Party especially in the light of controversy over the Qui-Si-Sana car park and new traffic plans in the locality.
Sliema battleground
AD secretary general Stephen Cachia is optimistic that Sliema residents will reward the performance of incumbent Michael Briguglio. “Sliema is a clear example of how AD can make a difference on issues like the Qui-Si-Sana carpark.”
The PN’s secretary general acknowledges “responsible decisions” taken by the central government in localities like Sliema could have a negative impact on the PN vote.
Jason Micallef attributes the PN’s low key approach to this election tox disgruntlement in “conservative” localities like Sliema.
But by fielding 14 candidates in this locality, the PN is showing that it is taking the Sliema elections very seriously.
Back in 2003 the PN had only fielded 9 candidates in this locality. Joe Saliba says that fielding a large number of candidates is a deliberate strategic choice. “We want to visit every home in this locality and by having a large number of candidates this will be easier.”
One of the PN’s new candidates in this locality is Marina Arrigo, the wife of Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo, who was also the mayor of this locality before 2003.
In this election Arrigo is attempting to reach out to disillusioned Nationalist voters. Contacted by MaltaToday, Arrigo said that she is concerned that residents are not informed on projects affecting the locality.
“I think that the Qui-Si-Sana car project has been very badly marketed to Sliema residents,” Arrigo told MaltaToday.
Marina Arrigo would not comment on the whether the PN-led council is to blame for this lack of information, saying “it is not fair to comment on other candidates contesting the election.”
All present Nationalist councillors support the construction of the Qui-Si-Sana car park. But Arrigo would not take a definitive stand on this issue, saying that if elected she wished to be a “link between residents and the authorities.” She also said that her position depends on the scale of development in Qui-Si-Sana.
The latest plans submitted to MEPA propose a bowling alley, restaurants and a fitness centre as well as a car park. Arrigo claims that since plans on this project are constantly changing she could not have a definitive stand.
The greatest absentee in the PN Sliema ticket is present vice mayor Gloria Mizzi. Speculation has been rife in Sliema that Gloria Mizzi was irked by the party’s decision to field Marina Arrigo especially in light of her stormy relationship with former mayor Robert Arrigo.
But contacted by MaltaToday Mizzi attributed her decision not to contest to purely personal reasons, namely her mother’s health.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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