People are not numbers
The controversy surrounding the proposed MP pensions reform was laid to rest on Monday when the government withdrew the amendments.
The move came after Partit Demokratiku (PD) opposed the proposed amendments and launched a parliamentary petition, and after the Nationalist Party (PN) called on the government to suspend the debate until ordinary people’s pensions were addressed and improved.
Both the PD and the PN claimed victory. In reality, they both deserve credit.
The PD claimed that it was not aware of the amendments, even if these were presented when one of its MPs was still serving as the government whip. But it was quick to point out that the amendments were unfair, especially when considering that many pensioners struggle to make ends meet with the amount they receive. The step taken by PD to launch a parliamentary petition and involve the public in the process was also commendable.
The PN was also sensitive to people in the way it dealt with this issue. The party has been accused by some quarters of being populist and changing its position on the proposed reform for political convenience. But one can also argue that Adrian Delia had not even
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entered the picture when the amendments were first presented in the last legislature, and again at the beginning of this one.
It is true that PD was the first to publicly oppose these amendments but, the PN was needed, with its bigger numbers, to force the government to bring the process to a halt.
Adrian Delia has spoken passionately about poverty since he launched his leadership campaign last year. He has made it his mission, it seems, to fight for those who society, which is fast moving forward, has forgotten.
Just last Sunday, the PN leader challenged the government to launch a debate on pension reform and to make pensions its ‘absolute priority.’ As expected, the government shot down the request, saying that the numbers belied the Opposition leader’s claims.
Unfortunately, this is the way this administration looks at the issue – through facts, figures and tables. Yes, the numbers show that the economy is booming, unemployment is at an all time low and companies are investing in Malta.
What the figures do not show are the stark realities of people who are living in subhuman conditions, who cannot afford the most basic necessities and who, because of the dire financial situation they find themselves in, are being pushed toward the edges of society. We are hearing about more and more cases of poverty and deprivation, of single parents who live a daily struggle to make ends meet and provide an education for their children, of pensioners who cannot afford their medicine, of people who ask their grocer for an IOU. While many people are doing well and business is good, the booming economy is undoubtedly pushing the people at the lower end of the spectrum further into misery. The more developed we become, the more our standard of living increases, the more these people will feel deprived.
While this government has acted on pensions, the increases we have seen so far are not enough.
We are not saying that this is a situation that developed under a Labour administration – these cases have always existed. The difference is that more of these cases are now coming to light. Instead of bickering over numbers and over who is responsible for what, both government and Opposition should work to improve these peoples’ situation. People are not numbers and should not be treated as such.