The politics of being bitter vs being better
Simon Busuttil is undoubtedly nothing but bitter. From the very first day since he was appointed as leader of the Nationalist Party, he has embarked on a hysterical mission to disseminate among his followers bitterness and hatred towards Labourites. His negative strategy to undermine the country’s stability is going on full swing by repeating the allegations being put forward by his right-hand, his spokesperson, the infamous blogger, whom he echoes incessantly. However, his inability to sustain his allegations, even in court, has merely put him in an awkward cowardly position.
He has a reaction of anger, typical of someone who has lost all arguments. He might appeal to the staunch Nationalists, who like him, have not yet come to terms with the fact that there is a PL government at the helm of this beloved country. And a very strong one at that. Simon Busuttil has no arguments left, but to attack Labour Party MPs and their families, Government officials, and all those who do not share his views, even among his own ranks, on a personal level, by repeating the same blabber of his aforementioned right hand.
When will Simon Busuttil divert from this constant bout of bitterness and start putting forward his vision for a better way of governing this country? It seems that the PN is devoid of ideas… of a positive strategy to manage this country, of new alternative energy impetus that can prove that the PN has cleaned itself from the filth and mud accumulated during its practically twenty five years of power.
The PN seems to be of the idea that the electorate should trust them with their vote simply because they are Nationalists and thus are endowed with the divine right to be in power. They cannot stand the fact that Malta is at the helm of the EU Council Presidency and is obtaining one excellent result after another. I wonder what the ex-Director of the MIC, Simon Busuttil, who was a political appointed figure, must be feeling at seeing Joseph Muscat, steering this country ahead of all other EU Nations during the six month Presidency term and beyond!
Joseph Muscat delivers. He has been called a salesman, but he is in actual fact a delivery man. And he does so, by simply being better. The last credit ratings by Standard and Poors and Fitch Ratings show that the country’s economy is growing much faster when compared to the current performance of other EU economies, such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Unemployment has never been this low and the problems being faced in this sector are merely those of needing more people in the workforce. This is also thanks to the economic policies facilitating Foreign Direct Investment in our country, such as that of Crane Currency Limited, a US investment, as well as BARTS Medical School in Gozo.
Four years on, under the Labour government, have brought about a multitude of positive changes we now seem to take for granted. Take the LGBTIQ issues. Malta is now a pioneer and leads by example other European Countries. Civil Unions, the right to gender choice (and soon enough gay marriage) have become part and parcel of the Maltese society – rights which were unconceivable under the previous administration.
In the Health Sector, there has also been remarkable improvement. Medicines that used to be out of stock on a regular basis are now unheard of. The long waiting lists for operations and medical tests have been cut drastically short as these are also being done in the evening or at night, during weekends or in some cases sponsored by the government and performed in private hospitals.
Several family friendly measures have taken place – the free Childcare, The free IVF treatments, the legalisation of the MAP, the benefits for those taking care of elderly relatives are to name but a few.
One must also mention the project of the new LNG Gas Power Plant, so unjustifiably criticized by the Opposition. This will guarantee a cleaner environment due to less air pollution and dependency on the heavy fuel oils. This has led to the considerable reduction of Electricity tariffs both for households and businesses. Moreover, it has acquired the fiat from the EU Commission, as one of the best energy projects ever submitted.
Another project that is underway is the new American University of Malta in the southern part of the island. This is expected to provide new opportunities both to local and foreign students who will be coming to Malta to further their studies and consequently reside here. This will automatically generate more wealth in an already booming economy.
This is a concrete example of how much the regeneration of the south of Malta is at heart for the Labour government. This project is another example of the Leader of the Opposition’s approach – that of being bitter even on the most positive of things. He opposed such a project as it was going to ruin virgin ODZ land, but he then defends his acolytes when they propose to build their own villas on ODZ land. Definitely a case of two weighs and two measures!
Joseph Muscat is also gaining the respect of other EU Leaders following the successful way he and his government is administering the EU Council’s Presidency, by presenting a new vision for a Union presently at crossroads.
Our Prime Minister is successfully demonstrating that he envisages a new energised Europe that addresses the true challenges facing mainstream citizens across the 28-EU Member State Union, dealing with crucial issues such as immigration, job creation, the concept of a new social Europe and the newly emerging challenge of Brexit and the rise of political populism.
While this is a government that admits mistakes have been made along the way, a lot has been achieved and there is still way more fruit to be reaped in the coming months and years. Ultimately the people will decide whether to trust the PN with its front runner Simon Busuttil, lashing out fake accusations and drowning in bitterness or whether to continue on the positive road this Labour government has embarked upon under the helm of the undoubtedly better, Joseph Muscat.
Joseph Muscat delivers. He has been called a salesman, but he is in actual fact a delivery man.