Acute observations of a freed hamster

For three months, it seemed that life indoors, like a little hamster circling on his wheel, would last forever. Strangely, now that we have been set free, or at least free to roam, everything feels even more bizarre.

The world is topsy-turvy with Donald Trump, the other loons in Brazil and Britain, and sundry other dolts who seem totally intent on destroying us all. At least opinion polls in their countries seem to be going against them

When the nonsensical is discussed, surely Malta must feature at the top of the list. Our country would definitely hit the tilt button if it were placed on a scale of normality. Here, the loopier the leader, the better the outcome at the polls.

The opposition should be a shooin right now after two election defeats. Even with a weak, beleaguered leader, the PN should be way ahead in the opinion polls. Instead, opinion polls are pointing to a crazy result in the next election, with Labour cruising to a victory that could give it a two-thirds majority in parliament.

The going is all bad for the party in power. Within its ranks such rot has been uncovered, such horrors perpetuated by its brightest stars, that it should have imploded out of existence. And the things that were allowed to happen and the things that were covered up are just unbelievable.

When a political party has the problems the Labour grouping has had since getting into power in 2013 it would usually disintegrate. But this is not a normal country. By some strange political madness, the party that has imploded is the opposition party.

Malta is the land of the bizarre in the extreme. I have no idea whether bżar fl-għajnejn (hoodwinking people) is connected to the word, bizarre, but the expression sure fits our national amnesia mode.

Which country can have an Attorney General telling the police to tread slowly in their investigations of money laundering concerning the highest people of the land?

Which country can have a former prime minister confirming that, when he was still in power, he asked his chief of staff to phone a suspected murderer to ensure he did not escape? If this is not a case of madness left unpunished, what the hell is?

This suspected murderer had allegedly brokered the assassination of the prime journalist in Malta, who was trying her damnedest to prove that the aforementioned former prime minister and the former chief of staff were mired deep in corruption and all sorts of criminal deeds.

This former prime minister, Joseph Muscat, is still roaming around freely, as if he is still the king (kink!) of old. He still struts around. He still sits in parliament with the Labour Party.

Muscat’s successor, the present prime minister, actually defends Muscat, saying that he’s not a bad sort. Unlike Konrad Mizzi, who has now been booted out of the Labour parliamentary group.

It’s so sad that the Cirque de Soleil has filed for bankruptcy and might be disbanded. Otherwise our leaders could easily lead their troupes, with their amazing Houdini antics for getting away with murder. And still coming out smiling. Or keeping a straight face.

Yet there is a possible kink in the armour.

We should see Joseph Muscat expelled and driven away, not in his handsome chauffeur-driven car, but in a black van.

But if Robert Abela were to even suggest this, the party would rise up; the party faithful would tear Robert Abela down. It would be regicide most foul and Robert Abela would be no more. He would be rubbished.

What if Abela is pretending to defend Muscat to keep the party hounds, grassroots and vultures at bay? He might know, legitimately or not, that the new police commissioner and the Economic Crimes Unit chief, are closing in on Muscat. This could be Abela’s trump card.

If the police chiefs are let loose on Muscat, Robert Abela gets away with Muscat’s metaphorical murder. The present prime minister can quote Muscat’s own beloved mantra: “I let the institutions do their job and this proves beyond doubt that they are working, are independent and are effective.”

Robert Abela would have rid his party of its worst rot. He’d have strengthened his hand with the EU, especially with Moneyval, showing that he means business and that he’s no man’s puppy or puppet on a leash. Abela would have also silenced, or half-silenced, Repubblika by showing it and the rest of Civil Society that he means to act as they would like him to.

This might be Malta’s best chance to survive this horrible patch of vile crime and viler miscarriages of justice.

If Abela does all this and restores a hint of decency and hope in this beleaguered land of ours, we could still survive and live another day of hope that democracy and justice might triumph. That crooks make our life desperate but that eventually they are caught and suffer the consequences.

Then we could really salute Robert Abela as being a brave and cunning Grandmaster of political chess.

Sean Mallia took this photograph at the Hotel Phoenicia during a magazine interview I had conducted with Charles back in 2014.