Four years after the referendum, coinciding with the date of the election is an appropriate time to take stock of the achievements and disappointments since becoming members of the European union.
This newspaper enthusiastically promoted Malta’s membership of the European Union and in no way do we feel that this issue should be reopened. This is a closed chapter. We stand foursquare behind the Europeanization and modernisation of our country. We believed then and still do today that entering the political union would upgrade our country financially, economically, socially and politically. We look at Europe as the catalyst that could trigger off many of the reforms that our country so urgently needs if it is to carry on prospering and equally importantly to creating a society at peace with itself where minority rights are protected.
Our calling is a liberal one, allowing all members of society to freely choose their lifestyle. We are as enthusiastic to see economic reforms as social and political ones and cannot help note governments commitment to economic reform and the dragging of its feet when tackling certain social and political reforms, which are still a priority for our people.
We recognise the progress made in matters relating to finance and the economy. There can be little doubt that addressing the deficit, entering the euro zone, welcoming foreign investment, the establishment of our country as a financial centre, the turn around in the tourism industry and the ample space given to the private sector and the EU funds acquired are all big feathers in the government’s hat. These measures have Europe’s certification of both a credible and sustainable economy.
It is also noteworthy that the Labour party in opposition have embraced many of these policies and these are no longer issues for disagreement.
This newspaper would like to see the implementation of social and political reforms, put into a higher gear, characterised by electoral reform to fortifying the possibility of all shades of public opinion being represented in parliament and not a system, unfairly penalising the smaller parties, the party donations legislation, divorce and co-habitation legislation.
These reforms must be the priority for a new government.
It is disappointing to note that the traditional parties in their electoral programmes are giving little attention to these matters, raising the suspicion that political parties are acting merely as managers of the country rather than visionaries of a more tolerant and diverse society. As a consequence both parties try to capture the centre ground, differ little in their policies and remain single minded in their intention to occupy the state.
On the eve of the election we feel we must highlight the priorities we would like to see implemented in the country. Our stand is one in favour of reform and the modernisation of the state. These are the issues we will lend our support to.
Keeping the economic fundamentals on an even keel, carrying on the privatisation process sensibly without the ideological blinkers of the dogmatic right, liberalising further the economy, increasing the private public partnerships, reducing taxes, removing restrictive trade practises, must remain the cardinal tenets of the new government’s economic and fiscal policy.
We believe in the secularisation of the state fully recognising the pastoral role, which the church has to play. Accordingly divorce, co-habitation rights, revision of the church-state agreement are crucial to a more tolerant atmosphere prevailing in our society. We certainly also ask for sensitivity to be shown to single parents and gay relationships.
Electoral reform creating a national threshold allowing the smaller parties to be represented in parliament is essential for the democratic credentials of our country. The culture of lost votes only helps foster voting on the lines of the lesser of two evils. This creates a democratic deficit, unbecoming of a European member.
The transparency of party donations is a direct corollary of a democratic state. In spite of endless promises this issue fails to find its place on the statute book in the process fostering the suspicion of a cosy business-politics relationship.
The need to inculcate the principle of meritocracy in the appointment of key people on boards and in government appointed agencies.
The urgency in encouraging more women to participate at the place of work and to create incentives for parents to continue with their careers.
The enactment of a freedom of information act allowing citizens to examine government files and for journalists and citizens to be given access to information giving them a truer picture of a particular issue they are probing are further building blocks in our democratic edifice.
The urgent need to radicalise our view of migrants. The need to integrate those who are legally accepted migrants into our society as full citizens with the rights and benefits of citizenship. The need to welcome diversity, not shun it.
The need to implement the European Union’s habitats and the birds directive and put the conservation of open spaces top on the list of priorities, and above all to address the issue of vacant dwellings.
We support these issues, this is our editorial stand.
And we believe that our priorities coincide with the national interest.