Last Updated on Thursday, 21 November, 2024 at 9:39 am by Andre Camilleri
Last week I wrote a few posts on the social media hinting about the meaning of the concentration of power. Several people texted me and even rang me to ask about my cryptic messages.
Campaigning around Malta and understanding people’s needs is not that easy. And the reason why I am writing this article is to specifically outline the difference between 2020 and 2022, that is before and after the global pandemic. Surely, after the Covid 19 pandemic, people changed their habits. They had enough time to reflect about the meaning of the quality of life. They could make such an assessment, because Maltese roads serviced less cars due to imposed social restrictions, where possible people teleworked, and we could go outside in remote areas to enjoy what’s left of nature by keeping social distance. When the Covid 19 pandemic restrictions were about to be lifted, Malta’s prime minster called a general election. The general election was held in March 2022. Indeed, Dr Robert Abela won the 2022 general election with a margin of 40,000 votes. A landslide victory for the Labour Party. However, just about when the election date was announced, Russia invaded Ukraine. People were alienated with what was happening in Russia.
Needless to say, the majority went out to vote for the PL to give Dr Abela a chance to govern for another term. They did consider his stellar work to reach a balance between the lives and livelihoods of people during the pandemic. People wanted stability, and voted for the PL. However, when the European Commission, as well as the USA and their likeminded partners, started imposing sanctions on Russia, the global trade order needed time to shift to new trading patterns. For this reason, heavy due diligence and strict compliance was required to not break sanctions. In fact, due to the Russian sanctions, energy prices spiked astronomically. The world was not ready for another economic shock. The economic shocks of energy prices sent political shockwaves across the globe, which effects are still felt today.
Let’s take the USA’s elections. President Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, whoever was campaigning, lost to Donald Trump. Let’s not forget that the latter had to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic between 2016 and 2020. Inflation hit people so bad between 2022 and 2024, that they forgot all about Trump’s abysmal handling of the Covid 19 pandemic. Else, they wouldn’t have re-elected him for another term. That’s how bad inflation hits people, especially if it is augmented to a global scale. Certainly, the PL government did not recognise the signs of the times. They must have relaxed some employment rules to provide flexibility during the high inflationary period. This is why the PN’s narrative is picking up.
You may be wondering why I am bringing this subject once again. In 2013, when the PL campaigned for Malta Tagħna Lkoll, the slogan reflected the electorate’s needs. At that point in time, people from all walks of life, including Nationalist-leaning voters, felt left out by the GonziPN administration, even though the economy was fairly doing well in terms of statistics. The problem at that time was the sheer arrogance of several CEOs and those appointed by ministers and parliamentary secretaries. Besides, there was an air of negativity, with people feeling lethargic to deal with energy prices, and no signs of empathy. Not to mention the total rejection of civil rights. The Nationalist Party was truly detached from reality and people’s needs.
In 2013, the economy needed a big push to start a momentum that lasted for years, until the end of 2021. The majority felt involved and inclusive. I saw several voters who crossed to the PL because they believed in its promises, which promises were in general delivered.
In 2024, just two years after the general election, the electorate is sending different mixed messages. The electorate recognises the efforts of the PL, and the management of the country’s finances. However, we have a situation where people are not feeling the positive economic effects, including the energy subsidies and other social measures. The problems are far than monetary. We have exogenous factors emanating from the PL’s own economic success. Besides, we need to understand that if the PL is not going to push for capital projects to be ready in time, and a better response to people’s needs, pushed collectively by ministers, irrespective of the district, as well as being inclusive again, it is going to be quite difficult to reconnect with the core. The PL’s core feels left out. Notwithstanding that the government must change CEOs and permanent secretaries from time to time, including its customer care, the signs show though, that the majority of those appointed barely know people. They are just figureheads running the show and some of them are hedging with others to not be criticised. It is truly despairing.
The PL government, as it should, extended numerous opportunities even to those who support other parties. We are too small to leave half of the nation out. However, just bear in mind, always, that networking is quite strong in Malta. And currently, the PN is doing a lot of outreach and networking, also through their own people from Belgium. Yes, you understood me well. They are even going after PL-leaning voters. I saw this happening between 2009 and 2012 by certain PL exponents. They are replicating the same strategy. True, there has been internal elections during the summer period and the PL re-elected a new administration. However, this is not enough. The problem is not with the PL as a party, and its new administration. Au contraire, the government’s performance must be accelerated. I believe the PL government can do more, much more. The PL in government embraces strong credentials to deliver mega-infrastructure projects, some complex ones in just two years, and does not shortfall on its electoral promises. To name a few, free childcare, tax cuts, energy prices, increase in pensions, stability in energy prices, and hundreds of other socialist and positive programmes. Dr Abela is capable to do more.
However, the signs of the times are written visibly on the wall. The PL government must change strategy. People want more flexibility, teleworking, as well as comfort to cope with their families, meaning quality time. They do not need their superiors to micromanage their life and impose excessive administrative processes to the point of choking them. This is why I started the article with the pandemic period, drawing the differences of what quality of life means. The majority of people do not care about the opening of green spaces, unless they are truly meaningful. These are just temporary.
People want quality time by cutting on bureaucracy. People want efficient departments with a one-stop-shop, if possible. People want more empathy towards their problems and needs, especially in the public sector. People want fair treatment and less concentration of power. People do not want termination of diplomatic postings because of sick leave. Perhaps, the Conditions of Service must align to the PSMC. People want more efficient road projects. People want to be listened to. People are asking for empathy, which must be built on the values of knowing people, value people, and protect them as citizens of this country.
These are the signs of the times!
