The debate so far

The PL is New Labour, no matter how hard the cynics try to remind us of the past. And the longer the PN campaigns on a negative tone, the more difficult it will be for them to regain points.

Saviour Balzan 13 January 2013, 12:00am

2 min read

It's not been so bad so far. Not a bad debate. There have been of course the usual ridiculous statements, such as the Prime Minister taking umbrage at Labour being well-funded; or Joseph Muscat replying to a MaltaToday question by suggesting that Tonio Fenech had had some apparition from the Virgin Mary.

As I write the first poll after the festive season has been published. Even the Times have come with their numbers. The results, I should believe, tally and show that Labour is in the lead.

The campaign so far has shown that the PL are well-organised, well-oiled, have a chest of gold, and are fresh in their aesthetic.

The same cannot be said for the PN. Simon Busuttill may be a ray of hope, but he is not the golden boy he has been made up to be. And surely, secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier cannot be blamed for the malaise inside the PN, where many of the black holes in the funds inside the Stamperija date from the tenure of his predecessor Joe Saliba, when embarking on a lavish project for a new headquarters and having raided the kitty for the 2008 election (which delivered a victory against the odds).

In the last five years, the focus at Mile End has been the next election, unlike at the Stamperija. Labour has learnt many lessons. They control (much more than ever) what is said and how people appear. On many occasions, you get the impression they look much like the same Nationalists that embraced the PN when Europe was on the agenda in 2003. Back then the PN was 'sexy'.

Today however, the PL are New Labour, no matter how hard the cynics try to remind us of the past. And the longer the PN campaigns on a negative tone, the more difficult it will be for them to regain points.

The PN has much to say and boast about. But I have the funny feeling that they are leaving all the goodies till the very end when it will be far too late. This is a long campaign, and it will leave both parties gasping for air.

And it's a different election. Before the election was on the horizon, the party officials never wanted the polls to give too much of a feel-good factor. Now they get annoyed if the numbers don't look good. This is a new development, and it may result in some new trends in voting: the non-voter phenomena and the traditional failure of cross-party voting, i.e. a person voting '1' for one party, and '2' for another.

Today Labour does its mass meeting in Gozo - a traditionally Nationalist stronghold. I find it hard to understand why the PN's own weekend on the sister island has been toned down. Somehow, I must be missing something in this 'long and complex' campaign.

Founder and co-owner of MaltaToday, Saviour Balzan has reported on Maltese politics and...

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A good and incisive article Saviour which clearly shows the current state and fortunes of both parties. The PN appears as tired and worn out party all the way in need of a major makeover and overhaul. Popular support for it has become muted even among its supporters and there is quite a disconnect with the electorate. The PL appears as a vibrant eager to assume power party, where one sees genuine determination in its officials and a growing trust and support from the electorate. Joseph Muscat has honed his political skills over the past five years and now enjoys an ever increasing support and trust from a wider electorate base. He has positioned himself as an appealing leader ready to lead the nation with a new modern style of more inclusive political guidance and direction.

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The truth of the matter Mr. Balzan is that the PL has learned to let other speakers’ debate of what they know best. The idea that only the leader had a right to speak in election campaigns was so very wrong for labour in the past. The magic of this campaign are the facts that besides Joseph Muscat as the leader gets preference, now the new PL has engaged true professionals to debate their PN adversaries on the election promises that matter most. A case in point was the debate between Konrad Mizzi and Tonio Fenech where one left with the impression asking how Tonio was appointed to be Malta’s Finance Minister so far removed from finances on energy and absolutely oblivious to what is needed for the country in regards to its energy needs. Konred Mizzi simply overwhelmed him and once and for all proved that he deserves to be elected to the Maltese parliament. The PL has allowed Louis Grech, Manuel Mallia, Deborah Schembri and others to debate in what is their expertise in their real profession and the electorate should focus and ensure to elect these people in order for the PL to become a real progressive and moderate movement. Out with the old and in with the new for a brighter dawn on a Malta that belongs to all the Maltese. The biggest drawback so far for GonziPN is the fact that they promoted Simon Busuttil as somebody larger than life, portrayed as a matador prepared to take the bull by the horn and when the election campaign took hold the Maltese electorate discovered that as soon as the bull entered the political arena Simon Busuttil ran towards the barricade. Make no mistake about it the PN will be in full swing towards the end of the campaign and there will be some strange rabbits pulled out of the hat. This is where the PL must now focus their attention to ensure that there will be no dirty tricks with legitimate votes and voters like the last election that could bamboozle them. They do have a habit of knowing exactly how many popular votes are needed to stay in power.

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Jien nixtieq nirringrazzja ghal darb' ohra lil dan il-gurnal li tana dan ic-cans li nuru il-fehemiet taghna. Jien nahseb issa tant thanzru ta' gonzupn u tant kielu minn fuq il-Maltin...issa qabdithom indigistjoni u qed jirremettu. Kellhom 5 snin mandra,dan kif qal gonzi stess li wara 48 siegha, beda l-inkwiet. U anqas l-elezzjoni stess ma basru li kienu rebhuha. Dak in-nhar siggu wiehed biss kellhom u mhux hamsa. Tiftakru lil austin jghid li ghandhom 5 u jghamlu l-iridu? Insomma min jikol b'zewgt ihluq jifga.

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A change in Government after so many years is a must. Try to stay with the same clothes for a few days and one would smell like a cow. A time span of a Government in Malta should be 10 years and the most 15 years. Afterwards it would be bad for this country. So, I enjoy basking happily in the Labour sun for the next 10 years.

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Like Like Like!!

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GonziPanicPN are in total havoc trying to convince the Cuc Malti to vote for them whatsoever as long they are back in power to keep on with their luxury life by sucking from the nation pockets. Shame on these arrogant fat cats. More than half of the population are absolutely disgusted. They will pay a high price for what they had done. Karma.

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@ better future Very well said my friend, 10/10!!

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Mr. Balzan, Your report is so important and truthful! if only the PN take note. As you know by now I will not vote PN, if only Dr. Muscat with his new theories slow down a bit. They could work on paper but any nation be it U.S. of A. San Francisco or Tim Bak Tu that goes to extreme will only brake the society down. Anyway that is my opinion. I will tempt to vote for Joseph if only he try to give us new medicine in time and slowly. Change for change itself will only do harm. Still prosit and a well clear assumption of today's Malta situation.

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Agreed, it's early days, although some powerful salvoes have been fired already. What is becoming increasingly clear is the tiredness of the Gonzi well fed, honeyed clan. Money sucking is clearly coming out as the motive for such a long drawn, election campaign. This has been ongoing a whole year. Survivor instinct my foot! More like preservation of the sumptuous standard of living, that they had become accustomed to. Private jets, chauffeurs, luxury top end vehicles, secretaries (girls and boys) and wild parties and what goes on therein and post party, etc etc.