Despite the opportunity presented by John Dalli’s appointment as EU Commissioner, Lawrence Gonzi has opted against injecting new or old blood in his Cabinet. But did he even have a choice, asks JAMES DEBONO?
Perhaps the decision not to promote anyone from the PN backbench might well have been dictated by fear of another revolt by anyone left behind. This might show that Lawrence Gonzi’s room to manoeuvre is still limited by fear of altering the fragile balance that is keeping his one-seat majority in power.
Appointing everyone to the Cabinet was never an option, which is why Gonzi had two choices: co-opting a couple of backbenchers with the risk of angering those left out; or to keep things as they were, even at the risk of reinforcing the “us and them” divide between the front and backbenches.
In the end, a divide and rule tactic to appoint a few angry chaps could have had an explosive impact on a one-seat majority. So by opting for a re-edited status quo, Gonzi has opted for the safer option.
Gonzi has stated he wants a “focused” Cabinet that conforms to his alleged 2008 election promises of a leaner team “with a relatively young age”. Of course, while Gonzi’s platform had promised change in the party, nothing precluded him from getting in former ministers into the Cabinet.
Indeed, the reshuffle has exposed the limits of the Gonzi revolution. The generational change has skipped Malta’s sister island: in spite of persistent rumours that he would shift her to new responsibilities, Giovanna Debono remains firmly anchored as Gozo Minister, a post she has occupied since 1998.
If reports that Gonzi failed to persuade her to take up new responsibilities are true, then this has exposed his authority’s limits when faced with insubordination.
Clipping Austin’s wings The shifting of Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation from Austin Gatt to finance minister Tonio Fenech is Gonzi’s most significant move. Here the PM addressed popular unhappiness with Gatt’s brusque handling of the tariffs hike, largely the cause of the alienation of the social partners.
It also reflects Gatt’s declining popularity: a MaltaToday survey last November found his performance had been rated negatively by 49%, up from 33% back in March 2009.
But Gatt could well be taking the blame for collective decisions for which Gonzi and Fenech are responsible. Gonzi says Fenech is the one talking to the tourism and manufacturing industries about the energy hikes: obviously, Gatt is not the ideal guy to lead such talks.
Gatt was also facing the controversy on the Delimara power station contract, currently under investigation by the Auditor-General. Gatt’s demotion now pre-empts any calls for his resignation in the forthcoming parliamentary debate on this issue.
Instead he can dedicate himself to delivering a decent public transport system. If successful, he may once again redeem himself and reclaim his reputation as a doer.
Fenech’s new ‘super-ministry’ Dismantling Gatt’s super-ministry has landed one in the hands of Fenech, who keeps on enjoying Gonzi’s full trust despite his misjudgement in the Arsenal/private jet freebie saga.
This trust was confirmed despite surveys showing Fenech’s popularity dipping by 4% in the aftermath of his trip to watch Arsenal play courtesy of businessmen George Fenech and Joe Gasan.
With his dual role of finance and energy minister, Fenech will ensure that further tinkering with the tariffs fit in the overall financial projections of the government.
But it also means he only has himself to answer for on the tariffs, eliminating the checks and balances on the government’s energy budget. One major disadvantage could be that Fenech’s energy and water portfolio will be eclipsed by his major role as finance minister.
Gonzi once again has refrained from appointing an energy minister who could focus exclusively on Malta’s pressing energy deadlines: securing future production at Delimara, decommissioning Marsa, constructing the Malta-Sicily cable, and a clear direction on alternative energy for 2015.
This role remains partitioned between Fenech, and resources minister George Pullicino.
Musical chairs The other big change was the promotion of Joe Cassar from parliamentary secretary to health minister, and the partitioning of John Dalli’s health and social policy ministry.
Once again Malta will lack a minister focusing entirely on social policy, even if linking it up with education makes sense when viewing the concentration of illiteracy and absenteeism in localities blighted by unemployment and welfare dependence.
The same cannot be said for the revival of the tourism/culture portfolio. Taking culture into the hands of tourism parliamentary secretary Mario Demarco risks once again sending the message that culture is a folkloristic appendage to the tourism industry rather than an integral part of Maltese life. We’ve already been here.
Again, giving Demarco the environment might create a firewall against unsustainable projects like the proposed Gozo airstrip; but his mish-mash of environment, planning and tourism may well perpetuate the idea that the environment lacks an intrinsic value of its own.
Without its own dedicated ministry, Gonzi loses another opportunity to institutionally recognise the heightened environmental awareness in the country.
What he does is to divest himself of the pressures of various lobby groups, who held the Prime Minister responsible for any controversial permit issued by MEPA. And he rewards Demarco’s drive in spearheading the MEPA reform process.
Focused on health With Joe Cassar as health minister, Gonzi realises the complex issues in health merit the focus of a minister dedicated exclusively to reforming this sector.
But as part of the medical profession, Cassar might find it more difficult to confront the various lobbies and house unions – one advantage John Dalli, an accountant, had.
Cassar will now be spearheading a reform of primary healthcare which seeks to expand the role of family doctors. Bearing in mind that he has to work within the parameters of Gonzi’s clear electoral commitment not to introduce any charges for health services, while coping with the exponential increases in public health costs, it remains to be seen how the proposed reforms will be received.
Rising stars As a result of the reshuffle, parliamentary secretary Chris Said has been given the added responsibilities for consumer rights and competition: two areas which, according to Gonzi, are of “cardinal importance”.
With the cost of living remaining one of the greatest public concerns, Said will be expected to create effective structures to address monopolies and cartels which keep certain prices high.
While his star rises, Said will have to confront business lobbies which are traditionally close to the Nationalist party.
Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi – who showed political spine in confronting squatters on public land – will be taking on the added responsibility for the self-employed and small businesses: a category which found itself orphaned after Edwin Vassallo was not confirmed in this role in the previous cabinet.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
