Italian Politics - Alfred Sant

I must admit that I was totally surprised by the recent twists in Italian politics. Given the times we’re in, Italy like most other countries needs a stable government, well positioned to keep some kind of check on the impacts of the pandemic.

Instead, the Conte administration – which indeed with all its defects had significant public support – collapsed for reasons which seemed to have been motivated by personal pique. Negotiations intended to establish a new government were, I believe, judged by many as convoluted, in order to make them look like they were serious politics when basically they related to calculations of a completely personal nature.

At least, that was my conclusion.

If it is correct, no matter how competent and admirable Mario Draghi is as a person – or if his mission to replace Conte fails and someone else as competent as he is or even better is found – Italy will have lost much of the essential time it needs to overcome its present crisis.

Which is a great pity from the perspective of all the Italian people – as well as from that of all Europeans, not least the Maltese.

Construction regulations

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The ways which the regulations concerning construction in urban zones were written and are being implemented clearly provide insufficient protection for citizens (and their interests) who happen to live close to where houses are being demolished and new ones being built. Apart from the fact that practically no remedies exist to counter the inconveniences and worse which such construction generates (noise, dust, blocked streets, exagerrated delays in the completion of works...), people are being put in a situation of great physical danger.

More than once, even fatal incidents have occurred when the demolition of old buildings triggered the destruction of housing to the side, where people lived.

It is true that despite all the structural changes that the Maltese economy has undergone, the activity of the construction sector still signposts best the extent to which the economy is in general doing well or badly.

No matter, the time has come to say enough! The laws and regulations governing the sector have got to be made sharp, effective and based primarily on the interests of the “common” citizens and their family.

Party stations

The sense of outrage shown by those who criticise the political parties’ radio and TV stations probably no longer impresses anybody. I for one never believed in the “impartiality” and “objectivity” of the so-called “independent” media, but I never believed they should be regulated or stopped, whether in print format or when broadcast.

That members of this section of the media feel they should now dictate that the political parties’ media stations must be abolished in the name of “impartiality” is a sick joke. For if one applies the same criteria to independent media outlets, a similar conclusion should follow.

At a time when social media is continually pumping out all sorts of messages about all issues under the sun, the fixation against the party media, whether they are impartial or not, has all the features of a jihad led by people who still live in the age of the dinosaurs.

Too many MPS

The bill meant to ensure that we shall at least have a minimum number of women MPs in the Maltese Parliament cannot but be given full support. It had long been evident that without a system of quotas in force, the number of women MPs would stay extremely low. The law will eventually have the same effect as a quota system and it is encouraging to note that the PN Opposition appears to be in favour.

Still one must also note a rather unsatisfactory impact the proposed law is bound to have: it will result in a significant increase in the number of MPs overall. I am unconvinced that this will be useful. The House of Representatives already is overpopulated. The truth is that up to now, when it was felt necessary to amend the procedures by which it is constituted, changes were introduced by increasing its membership, in order presumably to avoid offending anyone.

One question that arises is whether this newest change will complicate all efforts that could be attempted to convert the MP function into a fulltime one with corresponding remuneration.

Only incentives?

Some social changes – fair enough, let’s call them reforms – will need to be implemented, whether we like it or not. Otherwise we could end up in a clash with regulations agreed at European level and on a wider front. Many of these reforms relate to environmental concerns and the global strategy against climate change, but not only. We are already lagging according to a range of criteria and soon it will not be possible to keep postponing matters.

Apart from the delays that governments have resorted to when they needed to take effective action, one idea has apparently prevailed when setting the implementation programmes for these reforms, such as they were. All concerned remained focused on how the changes could offend people since they require a big transformation in behaviour and customs, and will bring in their wake increased costs for citizens and companies.

So, the belief was that if sufficient “incentives” are introduced, reforms would find acceptance. It seems that such is still the intention but how true is it that “incentives” will by themselves be enough to get the reforms on track?

The important subjects

A friend was asking me and others the question: Which of the subjects being taught at primary and secondary levels of school should be considered of prime importance?

In a way, I consider such a question with scepticism, since all subjects are valid in their own right – whether it’s history or art or whatever... On the other hand, when one takes into account where/how/if we seem to be making progress compared to other societies and where/how/if we’re lagging, the realization does emerge that we should prioritise those subjects that would give us the best returns in the circumstances that we now find ourselves in.

So, I settled on this priority: maths and science; plus “modern” languages. If the educational system catches up with the best ways by which these subjects are being understood and practised, it would seem that the basis for a much more effective social organization would have been set.

Now, I’m becoming curious to meet again with this friend in order to learn what other responses he got to his question.