The lull before the storm

This holiday period is always a much quieter time, both in business and in politics. In an e-mail sent a few weeks ago, Lawrence Gonzi included family photos in holiday mode and wished an enjoyable summer to all, but he still included the political message that the PN is ‘there for you’ at all times. The PM would have us believe that everything is normal but the political heat will not go away. Unhappily for many families, especially those with children, this is a time of balancing family finances and trying to cope with diminished spending power.

The Nationalist party is in full election mode, even though the strategists at Pieta are doing their utmost to hide this fact as much as possible. The PN is crumbling but unfortunately so is the country. The uncertainty and instability is there for all to see. If the government were not so cut off from the people, they would realise that the people are fed up. Fed up at being fed lies, especially regarding the financial situation, deficit increases, the cost of living, the national debt, meaningful employment, prices of utility bills and on many other issues. 

In a few weeks’ time, Parliament is scheduled to re-open. During a press conference following the resignation of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando from the government benches in parliament, GonziPN said that the government will be going ahead with its legislative programme. Gonzi mentioned bills regarding IVF and cohabitation among others. If the Gonzi government persists in plodding along in Parliament, the budget would also have to be presented.

The controversial issues in respect of the two bills mentioned are already being discussed in the media. The Gonzi government will have to discuss the bills with Pullicino Orlando and obtain his permission before the bills are presented. Assuming that agreement is reached, there is Franco Debono who has already said that he will not support the bills in Parliament. Debono has also made it clear that he will not support the Government as long as Austin Gatt is still a Gonzi government Minister. Furthermore, the fact that Malta is in a recession and the fact that the Government, instead of trying to find a solution, is claiming that everyone is wrong and that Malta is not in a recession is only making matters worse.

The Labour Party is prepared for an election whenever Gonzi may decide to call it. The PL electoral manifesto is focussed on the country’s problems and on how to tackle them in a sustainable way. Gonzi’s obsession to cling onto power is harming the country.

This seemingly quiet period is not an indication of stability. GonziPN is trying to gain more time to stay in government for as long as possible, but the political storm that the government has passed through this last year will only intensify. People from all walks of life realise that the Gonzi government should have called an election earlier, not for the good of either party, but for the removal of instability and uncertainty with the whole population.