It has become apparent to everybody where the thrust of the MLP’s campaign to win power at the forthcoming election lies. The idea of change for change’s sake is being repeated so much and so loudly in an obvious attempt to give it an assumed veracity solely on the basis of its repetition.
Labour’s general conference this week saw a line up of party bigwigs referring to change, to the desire for change, change, change and again… change! Among these was none other than Secretary General Jason Micallef of “a Labour Government for Labourites” fame.
But isn’t it ironic, that the party which is portraying itself as the advocate for change has not carried out any change in itself? The inference in this campaign thrust is that the fact the Malta Labour Party has been in Opposition for so long, is in itself an automatic qualification for power. However the truth of the matter is that they cannot provide change as they were not even able to change themselves! So what sort of change is it that they are trying to have us believe that they are promising? Simple question deserving a simple answer, no?
There is a notable absence of a realistic one coming from the Malta Labour Party, who are limiting their selling of change as being something good in its own right, namely that change for change’s sake is a good thing. Aside from the endless rhetoric built around the use of the word change, there is no substance in what they are proposing for the running of the country. It is almost as if they have come to the conclusion that the combination of the tactic of creating a perceived reality through this repetition, almost a brainwashing Orwellian technique, together with the potential votes lost by the Nationalist Party to the two other smaller parties, will result in the MLP gaining enough votes to win a relative majority, even if not absolute, but still enough to give them the power that they feel is now their right, since it is their turn now! So, all they need to do is keep drumming away the change tune, and wait for power to just float nicely into their hands.
Such a tactic is quite obvious when one realizes the sheer impossibility of attacking the relatively young Gonzi government on merit. He has managed to lead the country to success after success in the economic and employment areas, health and all the other serious matters associated with the effective governing of a country. A confrontation on real issues, issues that impinge on the daily lives of Maltese families would leave the Malta Labour Party beached and gasping for air, therefore the best possible tactic is jumping on the bandwagon of the change cliché, wait for some third party assistance in the form of traditional PN voters trying out the smaller parties, and hope for the best. How effective this strategy in giving the MLP power depends on only one thing - the rationality of each and every one of you when making the decision on where to place your trust through your vote in the upcoming election.
Such a decision is not one to be taken lightly, especially when you consider that it is ultimately you and your family who will have to suffer the consequences of sum total effect of all your individual decisions. There is a mile of difference between spouting out the word change, and delivering on it. The Gonzi government has delivered, and will continue to deliver, change for the better across the board in matters that affect our everyday lives. The question that you as a voter need to put to yourself prior to deciding on voting is simple – who would you prefer to continue governing the country in its path of prosperity, stability and economic growth, the Nationalist Party led by Lawrence Gonzi, or the Malta Labour Party led by Alfred Sant? It is not an emotional matter, it is not a matter of sympathy or otherwise and it is definitely not a matter of being conditioned by meaningless repetition of the word change! It is a matter of deciding on credentials and track record, and of putting your priorities in the right order in your own best interests. It is up to you, and to you only to come to that decision. A vote for the PN will guarantee a continuance of what we have enjoyed so far. A vote anywhere else, be it based on narrow issues, a change for change’s sake feeling or just plain boredom with having had things too good for too long, would be a leap in the dark.

Victor Scerri is President of the PN’s General Council and a PN candidate for the 4th and 11th Districts