Dialogue, duty, direction

In his iconic inaugural address of 1961, President John F. Kennedy reminded a divided world that the moment demanded not a “victory of party, but a celebration of freedom”. He spoke not as the head of one political camp but as the voice of a nation in search of common ground. In search of the common good.

During my own studies in rhetoric, I had the opportunity to explore speeches by major political leaders – especially US presidents – and Kennedy’s address stood out for its clarity, moral weight and commitment to national unity over tribal loyalty. His words endure not only because of their elegance but because they express a timeless truth: that leadership requires the courage to rise above partisan lines, especially when public trust is strained and national challenges multiply.

Today, Malta faces its own crossroads. The current leadership race within the Nationalist Party is more than just a contest of personalities or electoral strategy. It is a chance to reimagine the role of political leadership itself – not only within the PN but across our national life. But it has to start within the party itself first.

Whoever is elected will inherit not only a party but also a public hungry for honest, competent and forward-looking dialogue. He must be ready to lead not just the opposition but to reach across the aisle, across media echo chambers and into the real concerns of the people.

Kennedy’s vision of bipartisan spirit is sorely needed here. It is easy to forget that, beneath our flags and slogans, we face the same daily anxieties: traffic congestion that robs us of time and peace of mind; an environmental crisis made worse by short-term decisions; a sense that Malta is bursting at its seams, with overpopulation and unregulated development eroding both our quality of life and our cultural identity.

These are not red or blue issues. They are human issues. And they demand leadership that is prepared to speak to the country – not just the party faithful.

To take just one example: Malta’s environmental degradation is no longer something that can be tackled through slogans or reactive enforcement. It requires an honest reckoning with past planning policies, bold but collaborative reform and, above all, national consensus. The overdevelopment of our towns and coastlines, the loss of biodiversity, the choking of our infrastructure – these cannot be solved by any one party acting alone. We need bipartisan vision: a shared roadmap to protect what is left and to restore what we can.

The same is true of traffic. We cannot keep widening roads endlessly while ignoring the long-term transport model Malta needs. A serious conversation about mass transit, car ownership and urban design requires maturity, technical understanding and public trust. Politicians from all sides must be willing to say uncomfortable truths – and hear them too. That can only happen in a political culture where constructive disagreement is seen not as betrayal but as progress.

The leadership contest is a moment not just for PN members but for the country- Alan Xuereb

Overpopulation, too, is a subject that cannot be dealt with through partisan blame. It touches on sensitive areas: economic growth, immigration, housing, education and culture. The debate must not descend into populism or xenophobia but neither can it be avoided for fear of controversy. It is precisely here that bipartisan frameworks are essential – not to water down action but to elevate it above tribal reflexes and short-term tactics.

A PN leader who truly wishes to offer the country an alternative must understand this. The temptation in opposition is always to criticise, to react and to rally the base. But Malta needs more than that. We need leaders who are prepared to govern before they govern – to demonstrate now that they are capable of bringing people together, not just in parliament but in mind-set and direction.

That is the kind of leadership Kennedy was referring to when he urged nations to “explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us”. It takes strength to challenge the political culture you inherit. But only that kind of strength changes anything.

In this sense, the leadership contest is a moment not just for PN members but for the country. We should listen carefully – not just to the promises of electoral victories but to the tone, vision and maturity of those who would lead. Are they offering Malta a new politics – or just a new marketing strategy? Are they prepared to speak to the other half of the country or only to their own?

We do not need uniformity. But we do need unity on key national goals. That is what Kennedy understood. It is what Malta must rediscover.

Let us hope the next leader of the PN – whoever that may be – has the courage to embody that principle. Because Malta deserves more than slogans. It deserves leadership.

Alan Xuereb is the author of the book Riflessjonijiet dwar il-Ġid Komuni (Reflections about the Common Good).