Guest Opinion: Malta’s Future Hinges On The Next Few Weeks
The following is an opinion piece sent to Lovin Malta by a PL insider:
The next few weeks will be critical in determining Malta’s future for the coming years.
Two significant decisions will take place that will dramatically alter the country’s trajectory.
The first key decision involves Roberta Metsola and her future.
The President of the European Parliament has approached this election in a relatively low-key manner, confident in securing a substantial number of votes. This strategy allowed her to campaign by meeting people, avoiding controversies, and appealing to moderates and young voters. Her approach proved successful, demonstrating her political astuteness not only in Brussels’ corridors of power but also locally.
She will consider the vastly diminished gap with Labour and recognise that returning to Malta is a possibility, though it may not be her preferred option. Transitioning from the G7 to local party club speeches can be barotraumatic, even for her, which is entirely understandable.
What is sure is she will not vanish.
I suspect that if she continues in a role that allows it, and because of the fact that she’s so needed for the next election, that changes will be made for her by Bernard Grech to have a central role such as a Deputy Leader in the Nationalist Party. It’s not unheard of across Europe of having more than two deputy leaders.
She’s done well for herself and for Malta, and she may consider this option simply because she owes a lot to the Nationalist Party.
This is bad news for Labour because it means 2027 election may be fought with Roberta Metsola in the spotlight and a leading role.
The second decision concerns whether the Labour Party leadership will continue in its weakened state.
The events of 8th June and the following day will be remembered as one of the harshest reality checks in politics, delivered by voters frustrated by long-standing issues, amateurism and arrogance.
Labour was elected in 2022 due to its strong performance during Covid-19, but many in power lost touch with reality as power went to their heads. Humility should have followed such a strong vote of confidence, but instead, there was an arrogant takeover of interests, a shift to dilettantism and a betrayal of public trust on many important decisions. You can start with the lack of policy expertise in Government and move on to the the organisational and operational failures at grassroots level in the party.
The government’s dereliction of duty was evident in several areas, particularly in moral authority on day-to-day matters like enforcement and planning. They aligned with vested interests in the construction sector and neglected crucial reforms in the economy, environment, construction, and transport.
Adding salt to the wound, issues like deckchairs in Comino and restaurants encroaching on public space with a level of impunity never seen before have furthered angered people.
The Prime Minister’s talk of “balance” rings hollow when public land is blatantly taken over by unscrupulous business, making it difficult for people to access pavements. It’s simply shocking seeing chairs and tables causing problems for wheelchair users and ambulances as tourists and diners look on in complete embarrassment.
Photo: Newsbook
The Labour Party and its machine opening up a conflict with well-meaning people like Conrad Borg Manché who simply was defending its residents and their public garden from being taken over by a fuel station is proposperous, and even here I struggle to see how someone like Borg Manché, and his six thousand voters, can ever return to the Labour Party in its current state.
Responsibility ultimately lies with the Prime Minister, regardless of his excuses.
Blaming others is childish, and apologies are due to the many dedicated government workers stunned by his inadvertent remarks.
There is a chance that those who created this mess will continue in a weakened state. However, maintaining control under these conditions will require an iron fist, given the growing internal opposition and loss of trust. This could lead to dark days for both the party and the country.
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