A clear sign that the electoral campaign for the next general election is gearing up is the ever-increasing loads of pamphlets and other electoral paraphernalia that are finding their way into mailboxes all over the Maltese islands (and which are being passed on to me by readers, colleagues and friends).
One strategy used by MPs and candidates of the two main political parties to get their message across is to send a congratulatory postcard to an unsuspecting voter on the occasion of his or her birthday.
A friend of mine who lives in Fgura recently received three (yes, three!) birthday cards from three Labour politicians who will be contesting the next general election on the Second Electoral District.
The first one was a letter from Labour MP Joe Mizzi photocopied in black and white on an A5 paper bearing the official House of Representatives letterhead (how’s that for use of public funds).
“If you would like me to help you or visit you call me on mobile number 99420188, whereas if you would like to leave me a message call on phone number 21690453,” Mizzi exhorts in his letter, which was also sent in an official House of Representatives envelope.
Not to be outdone, Labour MP Stefan Buontempo opted for a two-sided leaflet in glorious Technicolor. On the top side there is a photograph of Buontempo who is trying to smile but knows deep down that he has nothing to smile about.
Buontempo is shown pointing his index finger towards the reader in a pose similar to that adopted by Italian tele-shopping host Roberto da Crema (but a moustache would not be so adorning to the baby-faced MP.)
On the bottom side of the leaflet there is the formal message “Xewqat sbieħ fl-okkazjoni ta’ egħluq żmienek” (with a dot missing on the word “okkażjoni”) followed by his name and surname in the following sequence: “BUONTEMPO Dr Stefan”: the same order as it is likely to be found on the ballot paper on Election Day (as well as the emphasis on the doctorate in order to impress voters.)
Like Mizzi, Buontempo sent his leaflet in an envelope bearing the official letterhead of the House of Representatives.
But new Labour candidate Duncan Mifsud went the whole hog and sent a full-blown card. On the front there is a colour portrait of the relatively young architect posing in his office together with the name “Perit Duncan Mifsud” (notice again the emphasis on the profession) at the top and the box with the words “A new candidate on the Second District” with the party logo emblazoned on its border.
On page 3 there is the greeting: “Wishing you the best wishes on your birthday” together with Mifsud’s signature, which is already pre-printed (hasn’t he heard of personalised cards these days?)
On the back there is the address and phone number of his office in Birgu, where he can be contacted only one hour a week, “on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7pm”. Mifsud also gives the address of his website, but until we went to print, it still wasn’t up and running.
How MPs and candidates of the two main parties obtain your personal details such as your date of birth without your consent, of course, is another issue….

Have you noticed anything interesting related to the electoral campaign? Then send an e-mail to Charlot Zahra on czahra@mediatoday.com.mt