In place of confrontational politics

It seems that any new Labour recruit, instead of taking their worth to that fold, is immediately imbued with the negative approach to politics so characteristic of the cosmetically renamed PL (Labour Party). I am referring to Marlene Mizzi's approach to the European Parliament elections (February 21).

I must say I was surprised as I honestly expected better from Ms Mizzi and that she would find it in herself to rise above personal issues and form a half-decent approach. The least she could have done is not to have totally thwarted what the EP stands for. She wants to be in the EP to do things like "hamper our government", "name and shame the government" and to attack "a government gone wrong".

The elected representative in the EP is not meant to be there as an extension of our partisan divide. If elected, Ms Mizzi will form part of the socialist grouping where she would be duty bound to protect and forward Malta's interests in the same way that any other elected Maltese MEP would be expected to do in other political groupings. Focusing on petty partisan squabbles, and trying to ride on a negative popular perception by focusing on a particular minister with whom she had personal issues, is shocking. Call me naïve, but in my view it is essential to maintain a dignified and clean campaign that focuses on what the EP is really about.

I think that Ms Mizzi needs to remind herself that she is not running for a national parliamentary election on the partisan level. The EP is not about confrontational politics. The European socialists, the group she aspires to join, militate on the principle of "a progressive Europe in which citizens, member states and institutions work together to address the issues of greatest concern to the people of Europe". How would she, if elected, vote on issues that require her to work together with the Maltese government to push for common positions? Would she then "hamper" and "shame" just to get her own back over whatever drove her to run on the PL ticket?

The people do not want us, as their MEPs, to take petty partisan and personal issues to Brussels. The people expect us to fight for their rights as European citizens, to resist laws that might negatively affect them and to propose and support laws that are in their best interests. We have to share in decisions that affect the whole country and not just those who voted Labour or even, by Ms Mizzi's standard, those who voted for just her. When I use us, I mean all of us Maltese - I wonder what Ms Mizzi's "us" really means.

How can we justify our term to those who placed their trust in us if we do not undertake the serious obligation to fight national problems? I mention illegal immigration in order to beg for rationality as opposed to opportunistic partisan manoeuvres, which can only lead to catastrophic failure. Tapping in to the collective sense of worry about this situation, and promising action and solutions that are just hot air, is beyond irresponsible; it is outright dangerous. It is in this area, over any other, that decency, temperance and honesty would be most valuable and worthy.

The EU will not be brought to its knees by all of our five (six) MEPs working together in the common national interest, let alone by those whose intention is to go to Brussels to air their personal grievances and waste their time grinding their axe and picking bones against their government.

That government will be fielding positions in the Council and the people who that government is working for, do not need an MEP whose sole aim is to shame individuals making up that government. The government needs all the help it can get from a team of MEPs who can rise above petty issues and serve in the national interest.

If elected, I would be the first to fight for Maltese citizens´ rights and to shoot down any proposal that will hurt our jobs, our environment or our families. If this requires that I criticise my government if it does not do its job, then so be it, and I would take it to all the levels that it should be taken to.

But I will not do anything that would make my country look like a joke. And if this sounds like I´m a nationalist in the patriotic sense, if it sounds like I belong to that class of people who really do put their country first, then it sounds just right!

The author is a Nationalist Party candidate for the June European Parliament election.

roberta@roberta2009.eu, www.roberta2009.eu