Playing with democracy

Electoral fatigue and saving on public financing’ – these were the reasons Minister Owen Bonnici has given to justify his super idea of postponing local council elections to 2019.

Postponing elections by five years would extend the mandate of some current local governments from three to seven years. That’s more than a parliamentary legislature. A mandate of seven years is one equal to that of the President of the French Republic – at least that was the case until a few years ago. The French however soon realised that this was too long a mandate for any politician to remain in office. In 2000, an overwhelming absolute majority of the French electorate voted in favour of reducing the presidential mandate from seven to five years, in line with the terms in office in other EU countries.

The Labour government in Malta seems adamant to go against this established European trend. But how convincing is Owen Bonnici in claiming electoral fatigue when this country is characterised with a relatively high voter turnout? As a nation, we are definitely extra politically charged when compared to our European counterparts, but we are surely not disinterested in politics. Claiming political fatigue sounds more of a desperate excuse by Bonnici to justify his government’s absurd idea of delaying local elections.

While this government resisted tooth and nail pressures from all quarters to disclose Mrs Mizzi Liang’s €13,000 monthly income, it felt the need to shout out from the rooftops about the costs of running democratic local council elections. They play by the rules only when it suits them. We are very grateful to Owen Bonnici for informing us that local elections cost €2 million. That’s more than half what Mrs Mizzi Liang will get over a span of five years. If local elections are not worth holding due to financial reasons (government thinking, not mine), then how can you justify splurging on outrageous paychecks?

In any case, how low can a politician go in postponing elections for financial considerations! Our ancestors lost their lives to fight for our independence, and yet we have a government that fishes for excuses to postpone democratic elections. The reasons presented are nothing short of unconvincing excuses. Owen Bonnici should be honest about his true intentions for postponing local elections by five years.

It is by now a known secret that Joseph Muscat’s idea to postpone local elections is simply a political stunt – à la Joseph. The problem with this strategy is that it is painfully shortsighted. You see, parties in government stand at a disadvantage because they have to live up to sky high expectations. The difficulty this government seems to be facing is the unprecedented level of assurances it gave on the eve of the election.

Is the government therefore trying to buy more time to make ends meet?

Any party in government would be tempted to act in its favour through the power of incumbency, but delaying an election by five years is a step too far. Such a postponement will only benefit low-performing councillors. They are the ones who stand to win if next year’s elections are postponed. Citizens with low-performing or unsatisfactory councils will suffer most, as they will have to wait for another five years for them to express their concerns. Once again this government is going back on its promise. We now know that you will be rewarded if you don’t deliver.

Libya needs help

The situation in Libya is such that the country has become a failed state. Too many militia factions and interests will make it close to impossible for Libya to return to some form of normality and peace. The departure of foreigners will only make the situation worse, given their contribution to the Libyan economy.

It is in no one’s interest, particularly Malta, for Libya to remain a failed state. The problem with failed states is that they tend to become a magnet for extremists and law-breakers who seek law-free states ideal for black economies.

Simon Busuttil’s suggestion for a UN peacekeeping mission in Libya is necessary if Libya is to return, at least, to the level of tranquillity reached some months ago. The international community should not be fooled into believing that its help was only needed in the short military intervention that ousted the Gaddafi regime. This is not a touch-and-go affair. Just as the international community was committed in removing Gaddafi, it must now be committed to establish Libya as a lawful state. The involvement of the international community in Libya must be seen as work-in-progress. Anything short of this will only make the ousting of Gaddafi an incomplete affair. 

Foreign Minister George Vella should wake up from his dream, and take the next available opportunity (at the next Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union) to put up for discussion a request for an EU-UN joint peacekeeping mission in Libya to his European counterparts. As a neighbouring country on the southern border, the EU has every interest in Libya. The League of Arab States has proved to be an essential partner when dealing with conflict resolution in Arab countries – its participation is a must. Such a coalition may return Libya to becoming a state once again.  Maybe, but at least we must try.