That elusive feel-good factor

Let me first make myself clear. The Labour Party has nothing against the CHOGM summit being held in Malta, except for the fact that the amount allocated in the budget for 2005 is most likely to be considerably exceeded. All this at a time when the government is trying to rein in its public expenditure and contain its deficit and ever-growing public debt.

Although the CHOGM might have lost some of its lustre, it still carries an amount of prestige particularly for those who still feel that the Commonwealth has a pivotal role to play in international relations.

No doubt the resultant photo opportunities will come in handy for government officials at a time when it seems to be at its lowest ebb, as was evidenced by the poor turnout for the PN's mass meeting that brought their Independence festivities to a close.

From what has been hinted at by the Deputy Prime Minister during the recent House Business Committee meeting, although it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the budget for 2006 will be read out prior to the CHOGM summit, this does not necessarily mean that the debates and votes on the individual ministries will have been tackled in their entirety by the time the summit takes place.

This means that the feel-good factor the CHOGM was expected to deliver is likely to evaporate on two counts.

First of all, because the budget debate seems predestined to continue after the summit is concluded.

And, secondly, because even were the ministerial debates to take place before the CHOGM, the latter's positive feeling would still evaporate within days, since most budgetary measures are logically not expected to come into effect prior to the beginning of the new financial year.

Even though the Prime Minister seems to have already missed the bus in announcing a Cabinet reshuffle, commenting to another English language paper he tried to give the impression he was still keeping all options open, although he obviously and understandably preferred to keep his cards close to his chest.

The biggest dilemma the Nationalist Party is facing right now is how to create a feel-good factor that can see it through the forthcoming and fast approaching round of local elections - when virtually a third of the national electorate will be expected to go to the polls.

While Labour opponents are busy trying to create the impression that Labour can only make it both at a local and a national level by the skin of its teeth and strictly by default, the policy updates underway within the Labour Party are bound to prove how misguided Nationalist spin-doctors happen to be.

The MLP is committed to presenting rational and level-headed proposals that are at once achievable and also in line with the aspirations of Maltese society's working and middle classes.

Being part of the team that has provided inputs to the position paper that is being coordinated by my colleague the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Gavin Gulia, I will not be disclosing anything confidential in stating that our official position on illegal immigration is expected to make an impact on the electorate without in any way resorting to cheap xenophobic tricks or "solutions". Or else to vote-catching opportunism.

We will do so by coming across as a result-oriented party that believes in addressing issues rather than resorting to self-congratulations even when unable to read between the lines of diplomatic notes received from friendly governments.

The same will surely be applicable to the updates that are underway in the educational, tourism and industrial sectors, among others.

Without unnecessarily crying over spilt milk, most voters I meet admit that Labour lost the last two elections due to "out of the ordinary" circumstances that are unlikely to repeat themselves in future - the fact that one of our own submitted the Labour government to political hara-kiri and the EU issue.

At day's end voters will be asking themselves whether they are better off today than they were, say, 10 years ago. From the home visits I am carrying out I can tell that, although we might not have beggars in the street, there is a substantial chunk of hidden poverty, particularly among the working classes as well as the middle classes.

Ultimately what will decide the next election will be the prospect of an improved quality of life, particularly at a delicate time when our health and pensions sectors happen to be so much under threat under the present administration.

Readers should bear in mind that, although the Lisbon Strategy spoke of an improved "welfare state", this government is committed to a whittled-down welfare state under the front of a so called "welfare society".

What we should actively consider doing is looking at the way the Nordic model is applied in Europe, primarily by enhancing economic growth and competitiveness without eroding our welfare state or else hampering the sustainable development of our environment.

Meanwhile, the hour-glass looms over this government's remaining days in office.

Come the moment of truth, all that it will have to offer will be the hollow pledge Biex int tghix ahjar (So you may lead a better life).

Meanwhile, everything seems to suggest that the pursuit of the all-important feel-good factor will remain as elusive as it has proved to be since the PN lost the two latest rounds of local elections as well as the Euro elections.

Mr Brincat is the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and IT.

leo.brincat@gov.mt