Bandwagons, pristine land and political jostling

Yesterday was an exercise in a political game of ‘Risk’, which must have seen strategists and spin doctors scratching their heads at Mile End and Dar Ċentrali. The PN scored perhaps their biggest coup to date with Marlene Farrugia addressing reinvigorated PN supporters at Żonqor point as she spoke out against the government’s plans to build a university campus in Marsascala.

Perhaps she is the only person in Maltese history who has managed to get PN supporters to cheer to a few lines she quoted from the Labour Party’s political anthem. But, novelties aside, and back to the matter at hand. While the PN was masterminding the appearance of a rebel backbencher, the PL apparatchiks must have been wondering how to neutralise the PN’s coup. The answer was clear - performance, performance, performance. This government may have drawn criticism for its way of doing things, but the bottom line is that Muscat and his government do get things done (aside from a pesky power station, that is). And this is what the PL emphasised yesterday. The PL has also tried to deflect unwanted attention through the Mater Dei weak concrete issue. A spade is a spade, we appreciate that, but Maltese politics is currently bogged down and mired in so many partisan issues that it is hard to see the wood for the trees. Everything has become even more polarised than it was before. Gonzi and Sant might have been demonised by each party’s political machinery, but they were honest, straight and true - for all their failures. Some might label Marlene Farrugia as the present government’s albatross around their neck - a Franco Debono. We do not believe that this is the case. This upstanding backbencher, who seems to have no agenda aside from her very stark views of what is right and what is wrong, has pilloried her own party in government on numerous occasions. She has not done it for personal gain, either. She also made a huge point of making the PN commit to no ODZ development if they are elected to govern, which is a huge commitment for the PN to make.

Is Marlene giving it her all for one term before she sets off into the sunset when Parliament dissolves, or will she pursue politics further as a rabid and fervent watchdog within the PL ranks? Who knows, she could even cross the floor and contest with the PN come the next election. We would not even presume to put such pressure on her. Love her or hate her, the woman is a person of principle. She is intelligent, savvy and perhaps most importantly, blessed with a quality that so many of our politicians lack. She has gravitas and she puts Malta first, foremost and above everything else. She is a true soldier of steel. Not a PL one, but a Maltese one. Our parliamentary system would be so much better off if we had two or three of her on both sides of the house.