Last Updated on Thursday, 30 May, 2024 at 11:30 am by Andre Camilleri
Last Tuesday, we assisted to the end of the Nationalist Party’s European Parliament election campaign. Technically, they never offered anything, bar trying hard to capitalise as much as possible on the recent magisterial inquiry.
Frankly, we all waited to see what the Nationalist Party’s vision is and what they are planning when it comes to EU policy. Let’s for a while leave the blank paper that was shoved in the face of candidates during a TV debate. Normally, a manifesto entails a proper launch. It was indeed a clutching pearl moment. It showed tackiness. The Nationalist Party is pretending to have a studied manifesto for the EU election campaign. However, they do not have anything.
The first time I saw a printed copy of this manifesto, was during Professor Mario Thomas Vassallo’s programme Agora just a few days ago. Actually, it was pointlessly flaunted by the Nationalist Party MEP candidate David Agius. It occurred to me that the Nationalist Party cannot have a studied vision because its media’s financial quagmire is an albatross around the party’s neck. They are financially bankrupt. To borrow some of their vocabulary, in a normal country with proper checks in place, the Nationalist Party would have been barred from contesting any elections. They are not abiding by the Party Financing rules. They do not even publish their financial accounts. We understand that it wouldn’t be possible to stop them for obvious political repercussions abroad. The Nationalist Party knows this, and they abuse it.
This is what the Council of Europe, through Greco, must bring to their attention, especially when the President of the European Parliament engages with them. They are not publishing their financial accounts. However, they want us to take them seriously when it comes to ESG and sustainability reporting. Logically, if they are not publishing their financial accounts, they are not able to publish their sustainability reporting statements. Someone mentioned to me that they owe millions of euros to Malta’s water and energy companies, despite the Labour government’s policy of subsidizing water and energy bills. If the utility bills in Malta were not heavily subsidised by the government, their water and electricity bills would have astronomically soared. They must thank the PL government for allowing them some fiscal space.
The irony is that they seem to agree with the EU Commission’s recommendations to start phasing out the subsidies on the energy bills. Well, they can always pay their dues without subsidies. The Nationalist Party in Malta pontificates one thing in Europe but then they do the opposite locally. Do not believe them when they say that they are the party of democracy and good governance. Just like their EPP counterparts, they are the party of an à la carte system of democracy. It is indeed a travesty of democracy because the Nationalist Party in Malta is the second largest party representing the Opposition. Technically, the financial dues not paid by the Nationalist Party, are just forgone funds that would otherwise go to assigned projects. The Nationalist Party in Malta feels that they can do what they want, without anyone questioning them. If I were the CEO of the energy company, I would definitely recommend closing the tap, and unplug them from the electricity grid. Actually, I would give them enough voltage to operate with just five bulbs.
They are the party that was against civil rights, voted against divorce in Malta, against civil union and opposed gay marriage with adoptions. Actually, I recall David Agius saying that children won’t be allowed to call their parent mummy and daddy anymore because it wouldn’t be possible to have it written on their birth certificate. This is the party who was, and still is, in bed with the Church. They feel above the law, and superior to those who are predominantly labour voters. No wonder that the electorate punished them and were voted out of government for the past 11 years.
My point is that we need to start exposing the reality in Malta. If the electorate gives me the privilege to serve Malta in the EU Parliament, I will make sure to bring everything to the attention of those trying to harm our country. Foreigners mustn’t meddle with Maltese politics. They do not understand it, and I do not recommend they get involved. Notwithstanding that the massive crowd in front of the court was there to express solidarity with Dr Joseph Muscat, the Nationalist Party’s media propogandists were on a disinformation campaign. Watching NET TV was like watching a Russian TV channel. They were recounting that journalists were assaulted and threatened. Au contraire, an independent journalist uploaded a video stating that he never felt threatened or uncomfortable in the crowd. The crowd gathered to express solidarity with Dr Muscat and his family. They were all chanting and mocking the Nationalist Party’s abysmal political results.
Personally, I think that what they are doing will cost them a lot in terms of votes. The good thing is that whatever they do it is going to take a long time to recover at the polls. However, that is their doing. Whatever happens with the EU Parliament elections, my pledge is that I am here to serve. My mission is to aid the PL with its economic policies to help the country progress socially and economically.
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party can always start paying their dues. And they must be grateful towards a PL government for its energy policies, which is indeed helping them with their water and energy bills.
