More Europe is the way forward

Thankfully, both matters will be put to rest on 10 December, on which day we shall know whether the country is heading for a March election or not.

But the fact that the party in government has known that the budget is not likely to be approved brings into question the wisdom of presenting the budget in the first place: giving the impression that its presentation was motivated simply by narrow party interests, rather than the overriding national interest.

Whatever the motive, government was within its rights to present its economic and social policy for the coming year.

Equally puzzling has been the hasty announcement of the leader of the Opposition to approve all positive parts of the budget, if elected. This smacks either of opportunism or the absence of alternative economic ideas. Whatever the case, it is clear that both sides are playing a cynical political game, while backbencher threat carry on destabilising the country. All of which further convinces the man in the street that it's all about power and not about serving the national interest at all.

Within this background and the expected announcement of the date next week, hopefully both the two major parties will undergo a battle of ideas, presenting two programmes to be approved of by the electorate. Elections are not just about winning of power but most especially about presenting a view of society. It is hoped that both programmes will be put up for scrutiny and discussion, and the electorate can make an informed choice.

But for an informed choice to be made, it is crucial that the national broadcasting service puts across all opinions and views in a non-partisan manner, giving fair treatment to all contestants and parties.

This newspaper augurs that both programmes contain achievable proposals and promises, which have been costed and are sustainable. There are many proposals that this newspaper would like to see included in the electoral programmes, many of which carry no cost at all. Our blueprint revolves around further Europeanisation of our country. Standards of transparency would be very welcome. These include the grilling of persons and their interests prior to appointments on national and constitutional boards, and the enactment of conflict of interest legislation, which would ensure that all public figures declare all their interests. We understand a public figure to be any person paid from public funds or in a position of trust. Such legislation should also have clear criterion of when or why a public figure should resign. More transparency is also called for in the awarding of public contracts which should be put up for scrutiny in parliament with an upgrading and the beefing up of the public accounts committee.

Parliament, as the highest organ in the land, should be given more autonomy and serve as the watchdog of the government of the day, rather than the rubber stamp of the executive. This may also be achieved by putting up of more private member bills for discussion by increasing the time allowed to back benchers to make their own individual proposals.

The national broadcaster also has a role to play in being the voice of the people rather than of the institutions with the inevitable slant in favour of the government of the day. Persons invited to discussion programmes need not be overwhelmingly linked to the political parties but be independent minded persons, giving a perspective detached from the party view. Most especially, the archaic view that both political stations "balance each other out" should be taken for what it is (hogwash), and both political stations should be expected to abide by the Constitution - as is rightly enforced on the national station.

There is also a dire need for electoral reform, which will ensure that all parties have a fighting chance to be represented in parliament, doing away with the wasting of votes, which comes close to disenfranchising a small part of the electorate.

Society based on meritocracy involves a radical overhaul of our education system, with the placing of public schools at the forefront, the appointment to boards on the basis of acceptable criterion standards and levels of achievement. Patronage - the hallmark of governments of all shades - should be kept to a minimum, with legal constraints on the free hand given in appointments and to be made more transparent. All public spending, all public appointments and all awards of contracts should be exposed to the sunshine of transparency - which it's the best disinfectant.

Are the parties capable of rising to these higher standards? Do they want to give pregnant meaning to our membership of the European Union? Only time will tell. We anxiously await their electoral programmes.