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Unquestionably the unexpected event of the year was the political outcome in the European parliamentary election held in June. After 15 years, Malta’s third and smallest political formation managed to garner 23,000 first count votes in a closely fought national election. It led to the drop in support for the PN and the surprising election of three Labour candidates.
However, Alternattiva Demokratika’s candidate Arnold Cassola failed to get elected. Voter preference and the final result ended in shock waves leaving the general public pleasantly content that a red card was finally being shown to the ruling party. Nonetheless, none of the players in this game appear to have taken full advantage of the mixed messages from the electorate.
The Green party appeared to have failed to seize the moment and Nationalist party die-hards experiencing their worst electoral defeat in over 40 years overreacted, at times offensively to their critics.
Regardless, the result offered an opportunity that served to add veracity to the belief that many Maltese were less willing to follow their party allegiance as European Union members. Whether this will be a temporary or permanent situation has still to be seen.
2004 also signalled the end of the Fenech Adami era. The erstwhile leader of the Nationalist party and one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers in Europe decided to announce his resignation. It was not unexpected. In the end he clearly anointed his successor, Lawrence Gonzi, who was elected leader in March. Instead of retiring from politics Fenech Adami basically pushed his candidature for President, a move that led to open resentment from many Nationalist supporters.
Membership in the European Union was greeted with long forgotten fireworks and a display of light and music in a highly controversial fete. The initial euphoria of 1 May was soon to dissipate as soon as the aspiration of ‘manna’ from heaven by adhering to full membership translated itself into more taxation, sluggish economic growth, brazen restructuring and a bad feel factor.
Clearly taking advantage of this is the Labour party, led by Alfred Sant. The man still leads the party after 12 years, even though he lost two national elections and a referendum. The former Prime Minister is banking on general mistrust with government policies and an increase in dissent by the middle classes towards new fiscal measures.
Malta remained what it has always been: an independent republic fervently nationalistic and distant from the world at large. The row over Buttiglione’s appointment to the European Commission because of his anti-gay stance brought Malta face to face with Europe’s secular reality.
2004 saw the re-election of Bush, the demise of Arafat and the carnage in Iraq. It had little or no impact on national politics. It has to be seen what lies in store in 2005, time will only tell.
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