Sant does not float

In 1996 Alfred Sant was the darling of floating voters - an ever-growing minority with no fixed loyalty to a political party. Between 1992 and 1996 he successfully sold them an image of the Malta Labour Party as a seemingly reasonable alternative to the Nationalist Party. In effect, he convinced floating voters that you could elect a PN-style government with him as prime minister.

Within months of taking office, however, it became clear to floating and traditional voters alike - indeed to many of his supporters - that there was nothing reasonable about Dr Sant.

Within 22 months of his election, his government collapsed and was thrown out of Castille with the largest majority in 25 years.

Dr Sant's seething rage at his inability to hold his government together and his dark bitterness on the opposition benches formed one sad continuum.

As prime minister he went down to the Cottonera seafront to scream abuse at Dom Mintoff. He declared war, war, war and promised an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Then, in defeat, he said the government was illegitimate.

In effect, Dr Sant was declaring war on none other than the floating voters who had elected him and who eventually made the rational choice of firing him. By definition, floating voters are as easily lost as they are won.

In this campaign Dr Sant is not even making an effort to appear reasonable. That is why one day he debunks referenda and promises to call one himself the next. That is why he claims he won the referendum one day and promises to give membership another chance at the polls the next.

That is why he promises never to say never to membership from one corner of his mouth and God forbid if we enter from the other. That is why he first said that he will negotiate partnership in 10 years, then in three, in two, then in 18 months, in a year, in three months, in a week ... and still counting.

In increasing numbers, Maltese voters understand that their vote is an expression of their sovereign will. Joining the European Union is the rational choice. That choice has already been made in the referendum. Let us make it again on April 12.

Dr Gatt is Minister of Justice and Local Government.