His way

No one can really begrudge Eddie Fenech Adami a sense of deep personal satisfaction as he prepares to let go of the reins of the Nationalist Party and, soon enough, of the government. His manner of doing it was in the best tradition of political stage management. He did not leave anything to chance. Not succumbing to false modesty, he wrote the outline of a personal eulogy. At the end of it he declared it was not his intention to eulogise himself.

But one must appreciate how he feels.

He is the second-longest serving party leader and prime minister in Malta's history. Only Dom Mintoff exceeded him in both regards. He beat the pants off the latter in the general election of 1981. He repeated the feat against Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Mr Mintoff's successor, in 1987 and 1992. Alfred Sant, the next man at the MLP helm, halted him in his tracks in 1996. Dr Fenech Adami then proceeded to whip him in turn - twice again, in 1998 and 2003, to maintain equality of maltreatment of the Labour trio he faced in six general elections since he became leader in January 1977.

If he preened in that regard in his parting salvo on Saturday, it was not about some any-day occurrence. He did it his way and, in political terms, formidably so. Dr Fenech Adami's electoral record will be hard to repeat. He is likely to remain unchallenged in the PN annals as the party's most successful leader ever.

And, he is also leaving his way. He was not pushed out, as had happened to his predecessor, George Borg Olivier, after he lost twice to Mr Mintoff, in 1971 and 1976, without having any excuse for it other than that the Church no longer gave him a head-start by deeming it a mortal sin to vote Labour.

Backstage there may have been growing murmurs of discontent, grumbling that he had overstayed once his fizz had begun to go flat. But no one dared whisper so in public, or signal it by half-lifting an eyebrow. Dr Fenech Adami could pick his time to announce he would be going, and so he did. Carefully, in a manner that fudges his most controversial decision as prime minister. But according to his own script, not bleeding from political stabs in the back by colleagues.

He is certainly doing it his way. To the end he admits to no error. He recommends his record with self-praise that, political achievement aside, is open to much discussion. That is typified by the way he described his economic record and in the manner he persisted in prophesying that membership of the EU will be catalyst for some great leap forward.

He can and did lay claim to having opened up the economy. Dismantling import restrictions imposed during the 1971-87 Labour years led to a surge in consumption to satisfy pent-up demand. It did not lead to a process of sustained direct investment, certainly not in sufficient volume. That becomes painfully evident by the day.

Membership of the EU should, on balance, be a comforting factor. To forecast that it will be a catalyst - a fundamental mover - of progress is to make very incautious, if not presumptuous, predictions. The catalyst for Malta's economy can only be a high level of export-oriented productive investment. EU membership is not a wand to make that happen.

Dr Fenech Adami's last party hurrah had a mixed flavour. He said that, having deliberated much about it, he felt his 70th birthday was a good time to announce the start of the necessary process to elect a new leader. His statement, while starting with a review of what he wanted to be remembered for, went on to sound, most oddly, as if he had just been selected and was declaring how he would be leading.

It was simultaneously valedictory and prescriptive. The outgoing leader was clearly laying out how the man who stepped into his shoes should walk on: There must be no wavering from the path Dr Fenech Adami had followed.

Any new leader has to start cautiously, not seeming to jettison baggage of the former leader. But he should also have a free hand. That is not easy if the retiring leader is still politically strong. When Mr Mintoff relinquished the leadership of the MLP he told delegates that, even when he was dead, his ghost would continue to haunt the party. Dr Fenech Adami's would not be so crude. Nonetheless, his easily decipherable message to the PN on Saturday will weigh heavily on the person it chooses to be its new leader. More significantly, it could influence the choice itself.

The long-serving Nationalist leader resisted to the last any urge to rise somewhat above partisan politics. That is a lot to expect from a leader planning strategy and tactics - not such a great lot from one who is leaving and doing so on his own steam. Dr Fenech Adami chose to deal his last hand in partisanship his way as well.

It remains something of a mystery where exactly he is heading now. His political exit, it seems, is not yet: He left the matter hanging, repeating his emphasis to Romano Prodi that he is vacating (only) his PN office. It is understandable that he should remain prime minister until a successor is chosen as party leader. It is also natural that he will be tempted to see out May 1, to usher in his membership dream, though the hiatus should not make the country pay the price of a government in deeper freeze.

Rumour persists that he could yet be the next President, with George Hyzler acting as President for a few weeks once Guido de Marco's term expires in April. I do not believe that will happen. Not just because there are stronger rumours that Anton Tabone will be the next President, with Michael Refalo becoming Speaker in his stead. More so because I do not think anyone could seriously consider playing to such an extent with the office of the head of the Republic for personal gain.

Dr Fenech Adami, now a robust septuagenarian, is blessed with a full family and seven grandchildren. One appreciated his declaration on Saturday that he looked forward to spending more time with them. And, yet, for some reason he seemed to hint that he might not be left completely to his own design.

Why ever not? I augur him to deal with that only his way. Some of the best years of his life await him.