Letters to the editor – June 11, 2026

Immediate action needed

George Bezzina of Marsascala writes:

Dangerous balcony in Birżebbuġa

This is a photo of a very dangerous part of a balcony which the authorities should treat very urgent and serious.

This balcony can be found opposite the Birżebbuġa bus terminus.

Act now. Tomorrow it may be too late. 

Stage-managed democracy

Luca Bugelli of Qormi writes:

We must applaud the beautifully staged theatrical production that is our national democracy. 

It is a flawless machine designed to accommodate whoever barks the loudest, promises the most money or holds the biggest chequebook. 

Why bother with the gruelling work of building a mature, critical-thinking society when we have perfected a system where the puppeteers pull the strings safely hidden behind velvet curtains?

Our commitment to keeping constitutional and electoral reforms buried is truly commendable. Real transparency is far too dangerous and leaving things opaque is just so much more convenient for maintaining the status quo. 

Instead of encouraging intellect, we have mastered a voting racket where loyalty is bought outright. The industrial-scale social benefit scams, housing abuses and the exquisite timing of pre-election “bonuses” and allowances are a masterclass in buying votes using the public’s own tax money.

It is equally touching to watch the political comeback tours of disgraced figures who were once forced out in absolute ignominy. 

Watching the “big fish” smoothly swim back into public life, completely unbothered by multi-million-euro hospital fraud scandals, is an inspiration to us all.

Equally miraculous is the timing of election campaigns, which are framed as spontaneous bursts of inspiration. Organising flawless, multi-million-euro mass rallies across the country in just a few weeks is a logistical marvel, unless, of course, the entire script was finalised and paid-for months in advance.

It is inspiring to see former MPs touring the islands and campaigning in their government-issued, taxpayer-funded luxury SUVs. 

It is comforting to know our tax money is keeping them comfortable on the campaign trail. 

This waste is mirrored in our counting halls. Despite massive investments in electronic voting, we must preserve our rich cultural heritage of letting party thugs scream, bang on the Perspex glass and intimidate staff. 

Heaven forbid an independent commission enforces a quiet room and saves public funds.

If we continue to sit quietly, nod our heads and cash our pre-election cheques we are active accomplices to this comedy.

Finally, let us express our warmest thoughts to the true frontliners in our hospitals. 

While politicians bask in the glorious afterglow of their carefully orchestrated political rallies, our emergency room staff are left dealing with the actual hangover of the partisan euphoria. 

The morning after these massive political gatherings, it is our healthcare workers who are left heroically pumping the stomachs of the masses, curing the excessive alcohol poisoning and managing the drug overdoses that fuel our thriving, unregulated nightlife economy.

Cheers to the system.