When the PN holds its next General Assembly, the delegates should keep in mind that the only reason why Lawrence Gonzi occupies Castille is because at the last general elections the majority did not want Alfred Sant as Prime Minister.
They should also keep in mind that the PN lost the EU elections because the middle-class that identifies itself with the PN (whichever way it’s defined) felt betrayed. Gonzi’s government has failed miserably to meet their expectations and aspirations. Their living standards have been eroded because of inefficiencies, waste and a head-in-the-sand attitude that bedevils the erratic modus operandi of the present administration.
The bungled reform of the water and electricity rates was reminiscent of the bulldozing style of the Mintoffian years. It forced the constituted bodies and trade unions to sit on the same side of the table and point out in no uncertain terms that the impact would cripple the country. After the damage was done, Austin Gatt admitted that the matter could have been handled better and the Prime Minister just looked on.
The VAT fraud was uncovered thanks to the initiative of a private individual and not because of any action taken by the Minister or anyone in the department. It went on for years despite red flags waved by the Auditor General. To top it all off, politicians hid behind the veil of police investigations when heads should have rolled immediately; and not just in the VAT department.
The middle-class were aware of the economic crisis well before Tonio Fenech realised what was going on. His budget last year was a financial fairytale which the experts consigned to the scrap heap before it was discussed in Parliament. At the same time, with jobs under threat, the Prime Minister casually declared that for Maltese, the most important issue was the President’s official photo or that the runaway cost of living was due to the prices charged by hotels and restaurants. Later, Tonio Fenech was scrambling to come up with solutions to save thousands of jobs.
It took 19 years of project mismanagement to build Mater Dei. Now, we are told that the health system is not sustainable. Of course it can’t be. The debt incurred and the interest payable eat a large chunk of the monthly taxes paid by the middle-class, when those funds could be spent more efficiently.
One of the selling points the PN used in the run-up to the EU referendum was the improvements Malta would see in its road network. Now, many of our roads are in a worse state than before Malta joined the EU.
The ultimate betrayal is the 12% withholding tax on investment property Dr Gonzi introduced in his ‘No Taxes’ budget in 2005. The amount of tax payable on the sale of an investment property can actually be more than the profit, reminiscent of communist regimes, and not indicative of the PN that prides itself on creating wealth for the nation. Those who acquired millions of euros worth of property by barter (i.e. undeclared transactions) made a killing. Now that property prices have fallen sharply, it is the middle-class that will see their wealth grabbed by the taxman thanks to Dr Gonzi. Might as well have the PL in power!
Dr Gonzi’s insensitive comments, on the eve of the EU elections, on divorcees and gays showed a lack of understanding of the times we live in. He really should take a good look around him.
On the other hand, the PL is a long way from being a plausible alternative. The changes, so far, are not exactly earth shattering, despite the media frenzy. It is still trying to re-create itself and comes across as lacking policies and fresh ideas; especially when putting forward credible economic strategies to tackle the issues the country faces now and in the future. Worse, there are still too many individuals who belong to a past no one wants to relive. However, it will only take a few votes to win the next one.
The need for a third party has never been more evident; a truly secular, middle-of-the-road party that understands and helps the middle-class fulfil their aspirations and ambitions. A party committed to a policy of financial discipline and social inclusion of all, irrespective of gender and family status. Sadly, this will not happen.
The old adage about “they’ll come back at voting time”, which the PN has relied on for the past 20 years will not work anymore. Neither will character assassination, as the PN Secretary General tried with his inappropriate comments about Marisa Micallef. He, who has been an embarrassment to his party, to the extent that he was sidelined during the EU campaign.
The PN desperately needs to re-engage with the middle-class from now if it wants to be re-elected. One can ignore the result of the EU elections but not the one of the general elections. A majority of 1,800 votes is nothing. It’s up to the PN backbenchers to save the party but not those who have been relegated there. It’s time for them to show their mettle. The alternative? Step forward, new leader of the PN.
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