Time to back off?

Sometimes I wonder whether it would be better for people to refrain from voting all the time, and instead, they do so every now and then, when they decide to participate in elections because they feel it will really make a difference.

But then again, all this business of democracy seems to remain relative to the contexts within which we frame it. The paltry 30%+ participating in the EP elections in the United Kingdom looks like sheer apathy when compared to the much higher participation in the same elections in Malta or Italy.

I am greeted with mixed reactions when I tell my Maltese friends that in Scotland I only got one leaflet per party (i.e. the SNP, Labour, the Tories, the Liberals, UKIP, and the Greens) throughout the whole EP electoral campaign. I still do not know which MEP I voted in the EP by putting a cross against my political party of choice in the “Region of Scotland” (as it is called for EU purposes), where over 5 million are represented by 6 MEPs – the same number that Malta gets for a population of 400,000.

Some would say that, “it’s great not to have political parties breathing down one’s neck in a society that is free from partisan hysteria”. Others are somewhat scandalized. They would frown over the fact that in Britain and other European countries voting is low while political indifference seems high. But then again, not giving much importance to politicians can be read both ways: Is it a sign of a weak democracy or is it a breath of fresh air where people matter much more than some parliamentarian who truly thinks the sun shines out of his nether parts?

As one reflects on the different political cultures that make the EU and the rest of the world where liberal-democracy works fairly “well”, one wonders whether Malta’s intense investment in political parties necessarily amounts to a solid democracy.

Without disrespecting their good work and their status, I would argue that for the sake of democracy politicians need to back off

At the end of the day, what is democracy? Participating in elections? Perhaps. Being fiercely loyal to one’s favourite political party? Not so sure. Hating the party opposite? Surely not!

There must be a middle ground. We should be aiming at being interested in politics without having to lose any sleep on how Party A, B or C is doing. Does it matter if one’s favourite party loses an election every now and then? What’s the point of enormous majorities? What is the real meaning of “winning” an election? To what extent should we always measure a democracy against party politics?

I am very pleased that Dr Simon Busuttil decided to pull out of what he aptly calls the Party Leaders’ “Sunday sermons”. I do hope that the Prime Minister will follow suit. Without disrespecting their good work and their status, I would argue that for the sake of democracy politicians need to back off.

I would also like to think that most politicians will agree that democracy cannot be reduced to listening to Leaders, Deputy Leaders, Ministers, Shadow Ministers and MPs all the time and on every occasion. Surely democracy risks to be strangled to death by the excessive presence of Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen, who, on every occasion, have to show up in their best suits and look busy and important.

If it’s not the IIP, it’s the EP. If it’s not hunting, it’s the vote on civil unions... any excuse to bicker seems legitimate enough to cause a fuss

Before last year’s general elections, many hoped that politics in Malta will change – I mean, radically change. This hope was not hanging on the PL winning and the PN losing, but on the off chance that things could change in both parties, and on both sides of Parliament. And yet, many are still waiting to feel this change because the EP elections did not prove anything to that effect.

If it’s not the IIP, it’s the EP. If it’s not hunting, it’s the vote on civil unions. If it’s not this, it’s that. Any excuse to bicker seems legitimate enough to cause a fuss, spin “public” opinion, appear on TV to have a go at your opponents, or fill the pages of Facebook and online newspapers with mutual abuse and insults.

Frankly, the less we hear from politicians and their minions, the better. I dread to think what a dedicated television station airing live Parliamentary debates would add to this Punch and Judy show. It would be like the World Cup running forever, where no one really wins and no one actually loses.

We now have a situation where MPs even have rows on who should write the history of Parliament. Since when have our Honourable MPs become omniscient? Since when they can tell us how to construct our histories and decide who is competent enough to do so? Have they entered the world of academic peer reviewing now? Admittedly there are academics in Parliament, but I would have thought that these professionals would know their place when it comes to distinguish between their role as an MP and their role as academics in their field. What next? Having a go at what happens in our bedroom? (… Well, come to think of it, that did happen a few years ago in Parliament, during the so-called “bedroom” debate on pornography.)

If our beloved MPs could just stop for a while and take a break from the limelight, they will surely relish the benefits of reflection and polite conversation (which I am sure they are more than capable of). More so they would lead by example and confirm that there is another side to democracy — that which makes a people a community by which we can find ways of creating forms of associated living. Maybe (… just maybe) diehard supporters of the PN and the PL might then have to use their own brains, rather than seek their wisdom in the pronouncements that their beloved MPs and Dear Leaders have to offer.  

As to Dr Busuttil and his party, I sincerely hope that he will have the courage to stop others around him from enjoying the sound of their voice. The model of two deputy leaders in both parties has increased the cacophony considerably. One cannot help observing how some deputy leaders tend to make even more noise than their own leaders.

People do deserve a democracy where they are valued more than their politicians. Democracy is the rule of the people and not the rule of the few whom we elect. More so, a Republic – a res publica – is a public affair and not the affair of the few and their minions who seem to think that they have a right to rule the roost and always have the last word. Elections are not the be all and end all of democracy. Democracy is a form of governing and leading, not just a competition.

I do believe that Maltese politicians need to do the sensible thing and back off, and give the people the occasional break. If both party leaders put their money were their mouth is, then we should be getting a new form of doing politics from both the PL and PN. That’s what they promised, even though, at this stage, we are still getting much of the same muchness.