A Christmas present for this country

That he is a great improvement over Anglu Farrugia is not being questioned here.

But it might be pertinent to see what Grech and Simon Busuttil (his PN counterpart) stand for.

And of course Joe Azzopardi - Joe Mizzi's and Anton Attard's great gatekeeper - will be doing his best to highlight the differences between them.

Perhaps Busuttil could start talking some content, and then I would have no problem with listening to what he has to offer.

What's for sure is that the political Christmas truce that was promised is no longer with us. Let's be realistic: there was no real truce, and the collateral damage from Joe Azzopardi's 'Jerry Springer show' has left its effects.

Whether you like Joe or not, he remains a force to be reckoned with. And as long as he remains the PN's answer to Eileen Montesin, there is nothing one can do about him.

I am happy that Muscat had the gall to face Farrugia. I was starting to think that he was a Lawrence Gonzi... i.e., that he was incapable of facing people, and could only smile at them. And I am happy that the culture of resignations is starting to slowly but steadily establish itself as part of Maltese political culture.

Grech's nomination may have stopped the vote-haemorrhage that had started within Labour's ranks, but as of the 7 January, there will be no time for any more mistakes from either side.

The PN is rightly feeling better after a year of incredible f*** ups.

Beyond the political bickering, the things that came to mind as I looked back at this eventful week was the MEPA sitting with Zaren Vassallo. 

As he sat in front of the MEPA board, unauthorised work was taking place at the same time that he was expecting MEPA to wave the green light.

MEPA did nothing as they were told of this illegality.

Just imagine the applicant was Joe Bloggs and not Zaren Vassallo.

MEPA finally decided to wave the green light to a happy Zaren Vassallo.

Considering the speed with which the applications was processed, we are of course justified in asking a few questions to MEPA chief.

Did Austin Walker, the chief at MEPA, discuss this application with anyone from government? By this I mean from Castille, or from de Marco's office?

Or did any of his staff?

Yes or no?

Did Austin Walker see that the time period taken for this application was abnormally short?

Can Austin Walker justify why other applications have been pending for years now?

Can Austin Walker mention another supermarket application which was issued next to an established supermarket?

Mr Austin Walker is of course within his rights to ignore my questions. He is after all only a public official paid by our taxes and appointed by the Prime Minister. 

But never mind.

I must say that I am pleased that at least individuals such as Giovanni Bonello - a MEPA member - decided not to vote for this application. 

And I must add, I have missed Astrid Vella's presence at these meetings, and also that of other green groups. 

They all seem to have migrated to some other side of the planet. Vella in particular is to be noted, since she was not only a regular feature in the green protest, but very much appreciated as a major pain in the ass for the establishment.

I hope she is not unwell, but if she is in fact in good health - and not kidnapped or something - then I must add that she's turned out to be a big disappointment. 

Which brings me to the title of this column.

It should be said that whoever leads this country next year the thing that needs to be implemented beyond the empty promises and consideration for placing party people in cushy jobs and positions is to rock the system and implement institutional reform.

That reform would need, first of all, to change the electoral system. Not necessarily to ensure plurality for more parties - though that could be a beneficial thing - but rather to allow for a system where people vote for a party and not a candidate. The first past the post, where the candidate is chosen by the party and a vote for a party in a constituency, means the first candidate chosen will be elected.

That would put an end to the culture of favours and favouritism.

The second reform would have to focus on political financing.

The third would have to be about parliament and the president.

A smaller parliament is necessary and an executive president is called for.

Not a president relegated to collecting money for charity.

The other reforms would naturally focus on the issue of ethics and the imposition of ethical and conflicts of interests.

The independence of the judiciary would be ensured by creating a system similar to the German one, where the judiciary becomes a profession rather than a thank-you note from the government of the day.

Similar reforms will be needed in State broadcasting by removing it from the political parties and their cronies and giving it back to the audiences and the people. By creating a 'mini-BBC' with the same integrity of the BBC.

And the need to create an even playing field for the business community with a transparent contracts department and clear and fair procurement legislation.

Moreover, this country needs someone with the balls to implement change, to do away with the quangos, with the unnecessary red tape, with waste and wasted energy.  With boards which need not be there, with a bloated public sector and a private industry dependent on government.

These institutional reforms will serve to change our country from the inside.

Simon Busuttil conveniently argues that change can happen by changing individual cogs within the PN, and not necessarily changing political parties.

But it is abundantly clear that change can only happen if the next government enjoys a real majority and not simply a one-seat majority.

The next Prime Minister will need to have the comfort zone of a three-seat or even a five-seat majority to be able to make those reforms.

Simon Busuttil argues that his party has all the solutions. Until now, he has faced a dinosaur by the name of Anglu Farrugia. If he were given a real confrontation, I am sure we can come to our own conclusions of how up to it Busuttil really is.

On the flip side, if Labour continues to be much of the same and only wants to be a Nationalist party - without the fervour and enthusiasm to have a revolution - this country is truly f***ed.

To change for the sake of changing will be the case for most of us, but it will not endear us to Labour.

'Reform and be damned', is what is needed.

Because only with brave reform will this country make the quantum leap into modern democracy.

Best wishes to all our readers!