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Adrian Delia: Let Us Stand Together

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Adrian Delia is the Leader of the Opposition. This article was originally published on Lovin Tomorrow, Lovin Malta’s one-off newspaper

To paraphrase lyrics of a Les Miserables song, elections are the opportunity for a government to hear the people sing the song of angry men. And contrary to what government wants us to believe, there is plenty to be angry about in Malta today.

This government has been riding high on a feel-good factor wave, sustained by the immediate positive economic impact of the deluge of foreigner workers taking up residence in Malta. The Socialist government opened the gates for imported labour to an extent last seen locally, according to the Governor of the Central Bank, in 1903 when the British rulers imported thousands of workers to undergo the construction of the Valletta breakwater. That project brought immediate prosperity to Malta only to be followed by the worst economic depression in Malta’s history.

There is a lesson to be learnt there: shortcuts to economic prosperity never work, certainly not in the long-term. It is a lesson that this government is not interested in hearing as it continues to focus on short-term gains ignoring long-term pains.

Consider this: we are the smallest country with the highest population density in the European Union

Malta, the country with the lowest fertility rate in Europe has the fastest growing population in Europe. The country and the people are already feeling the strain of this sudden ballooning of people living in Malta. Our state schools are not coping with the added student population. Waiting lists for appointments in state hospitals are increasing: 40 weeks is the average waiting time for an out-patient visit. Property prices have shot up, with Maltese people priced out of the market.

Traffic congestion on our roads is affecting negatively our air quality. Malta has the worst levels of air pollution in Europe, contributing to nearly 600 early deaths annually. The influx of foreign workers is also putting negative pressure on the wages of workers in Malta. Workers are being forced to accept lower wages or stagnant wages, or be replaced by foreigners. Malta was the only country in the EU which saw wages decrease in 2018. This inflation is edging more and more people towards poverty. Ironically, but not surprisingly, this is happening under a socialist government.

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The lack of economic and social planning by this Socialist government has become the most important political issue this country is facing, alongside the rampant corruption that is eroding our institutions. The sheer negligence by this Socialist government, manifesting itself in the absence of an economic plan, will undoubtedly become one of the platforms upon which voters will ponder before casting their preference in the upcoming MEP and Local Council elections in May 25th. For it is the least affluent families that depend on state schools for the education of their children and state hospitals for their health.

We live in a country that statistically has one of fastest growing economies in Europe but the only country where wages are contracting. Which can only mean one thing: economic growth is happening at the expense of the workers, not to benefit the nation.

This Socialist government is number driven when it should be people driven. And this is the main difference between the socialist mentality and the People’s Party mentality. We are and always have been in favour of economic growth. We, the Nationalist Party, delivered economic growth when Malta was left in the pits by subsequent Socialist governments. But our point of departure was, is and will remain the people. Politics is a means of serving the people. And many people in Malta are feeling that they are not being served by this government.

The effects of this soulless state are being felt by more and more people. It is being felt by those who saw their standard of living eroded in favour of economic growth. It is felt by those who saw their government trade the country’s reputation for a percentage increase in GDP growth.

The May election is an opportunity to all these people to express their anger

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The week after this election, Malta will not have a different government, but it might have a government with a different attitude.

It all depends onthe message that the electorate will send out through its vote. You have an opportunity to change things for thebetter. Whether you vote or not, yourvote will still count. If you don’t vote then you are voting for things to stay the way they are.

Let us stand together in the fight for a just and fairer economy. Let us stand together for a country that values a person for his qualities and not his connections. Let us stand together for a country with functioning state institutions. Let us stand together for a country that fights corruption. Let us stand together against abortion. Let us stand together against this wanton disregard of our built environment. Let us stand together for the protection of our open countryside. Let us stand together to protect our standard of living of the most vulnerable members of society. Let us stand together for affordable housing. Let us stand together to protect the good name of Malta.

You have an opportunity on 25 May to stand up, to be angry and do some- thing about it.

Share this post if you agree with Adrian Delia

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).

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