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Michael Falzon, the deputy leader for party affairs of the Labour Party, has repeatedly stated that the MLP will not only be an alternative to the present government but a better government. This statement of intent is welcomed by this newspaper however it needs tangible evidence and awaits concretising into an electoral programme. To date, the policy papers presented and the public statements of prominent members of the paper leave a lasting impression of a party full of good intentions but few fresh ideas. The strategy appears to be to anchor the party in a centrist position and not to make any public statements which could alienate any category. Play safe is the order of the day. This attitude is in part the direct consequence of years spent in the opposition which has dissipated Labour’s self-confidence and traditional drive for change.
Labour’s reform strategy is also straitjacketed by the blind acceptance of numerous no-go areas. Pensions, divorce, stipends and hunting are all issues which Labour feels are too hot electorally to handle. The net effect of this cautious approach is that Labour appears to be a party hell bent on maintaining the status quo.
Considering that the economic and social problems facing the country are so big, the approach of a party posing as an alternative government should be radically different. The circumstances require a bold approach built on a commitment to take the necessary hard decisions irrespective of the political fallout. Europe is an opportunity for the country to solve its problems. This requires politicians with vision, with a clear idea of where they want to take the country and who do not utter platitudes like ‘we will be a better government’ or ‘only Labour can bring change’ without telling us how.
This morning’s keynote speech by Alfred Sant is a golden opportunity for the Labour leader to explain the Labour project. It assumes an even bigger dimension since it may be the last conference prior to a general election. Accordingly it is an opportunity which should not be thrown away. We await the outcome.
There is a mood in the country among floating voters that still does not trust Labour and has serious misgivings on the credibility of its leader. This element of trust needs addressing and fast. This morning could be the occasion to explain concretely what Labour intends doing.
Alfred Sant must assure people that he intends running the country differently by really being a government for all the Maltese. Is he prepared to appoint a president who really represents the whole country? Will he make the institutions really national by appointing persons on a criterion of meritocracy rather than on the basis of the party badge? Will he ensure that the Public Broadcasting Service will be a national service clearly engrained in the ethos of the institution? The sensitivities of the floating voter to these issues and the way they have been tackled by the present government have chipped away government support. Were Labour not to give guarantees that it will not act in a similar manner, it will not overcome the trust threshold necessary to win the next election. Today’s conference is an opportunity for the leader to also dwell on these issues.
Labour should also take a clear stand on divorce. Many individual party officials and members of parliament have expressed for and against positions. This issue must be discussed internally and a party position taken prior to the forthcoming election. Simply throwing the ball into the court of civil society is a way of passing on the buck. A clear party position is called for.
Labour’s criticism of much of government’s policy must also concretise into what alternatives are being offered. It is not sufficient to simply criticise all that government is doing by presenting a picture of doom and gloom. Clear alternatives must be presented for the approval of the electorate. Then and only then will a truly alternative government appear on the horizon. This morning’s conference is an appropriate opportunity to explain the alternative Labour project that claims to be a better government.
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