An opposition's obsession

Today, in summer 2002, our opposition has one obsession - to keep Malta out of the European Union.

There are no policies on offer, just one obsession, and the whole media machine of the MLP focuses on this one idea.

What is the content of this obsession of the MLP with non-membership of the European Union? The propaganda campaign runs like this.

First you focus on all the problems we face, from our deficit to our environment, from the world slump in tourism to our national and cruel traits towards our animal friends.

Then you claim the government cannot or will not solve these problems because it is obsessed with EU membership.

Thirdly you focus on all the fears of the Maltese, from our xenephobia to our strong Catholicism and make ridiculous claims about Sicilian haidressers, Aids and abortion being linked to EU membership.

And you don't just do it once (PN propaganda machine please note!), you repeat it every day through Super 1 TV and radio and through all their mass of commentators.

The result is that the phrase "the government is obsessed with EU membership" has sunk into our pschye. It's a phrase we all know even though the opposite is the truth and it is the MLP that is obsessed with not joining the EU.

Of course this is partly the fault of the PN propaganda machine, because simple repetitive propaganda has to be fought with the same. Remember, we have been hearing this for four years from the MLP. What simple stock phrase can you think of that is coming out of the pro-EU lobby? Not one.

Busy as we all are and inundated by the media offerings of too many TV and radio stations, newspapers and others which posture as such, it is vital, and hopefully not too late for the PN to simplify its message.

The vast majority will not read or hear what a Verheugen or a Cox said!

The vast majority need one simple slogan, one single irrefutable argument why membership is our best option. The next and allied message has to be why that 'yes' referndum vote must be followed by a PN vote.

Clearly, a vote for Labour will keep us out of the EU. But so will a vote for AD or a non-vote. These votes will keep us out of the EU and all those pro-environmentalists and animal lovers who are toying with the idea of an AD vote should be very clear in their minds that this vote will only lead us on one path, away from the EU for many years to come.

AD should have remained an effective pressure group. As it is, they are currently playing with the Maltese electorate, commenting and criticising everything and making the wild claim that an AD vote can change things or get us into the EU. It can't.

It can only keep us out with our current voting sytem where an election is decided on who of the main parties has the most number 1s. Once we are in the EU, both parties must work on a fairer electoral system, and the time for a mature third party will be right.

As they are now, I find AD very immature. AD want power at all costs and are clearly intolerant of criticism when that is all their daily dose of press releases amounts to!

AD has always had many ex-Labourites in its fold and that intolerant attitude to being criticised is simply and sadly part of the Labour psyche in Malta.

Once we are in the EU, Labour will have to look long and hard at their obsession to try and keep us out and ask themselves: "Why did we do it? Was it worth it?"