The future of Malta

The people will soon have an opportunity of electing a government that can build national unity around an impressive domestic programme of economic activity as well as a consensus building approach to foreign policy.

As the Labour Party continues to promote its electoral programme on a daily basis, motivated by the need to propose urgent solutions to domestic problems, the Nationalist Party is still busy struggling with an unreal extended yes-no referendum campaign. A basic course in lateral thinking would demonstrate to the Nationalist Party why that is a losing strategy.

While the Labour Party is preparing a rescue plan for the economy that will enable Malta to take part competitively in European prosperity, the Nationalist Party continues to hope that Europe alone could solve Malta's economic problems. Europe would penalise rather than subsidise Malta's massive national debt.

Malta requires a government that can rise above the partisan battleground and that can work towards truly national solutions for the most challenging domestic issues facing this nation. The public deserves a government that can build on the aspirations of those who voted yes on March 8 while taking into account the objections of the rest.

A successful and innovative government would be able to achieve national unity by embarking on a collective effort to save the Maltese economy and, also, towards a programme that will allow Malta to participate constructively and in a sustainable manner in the process of European integration.

The outgoing government has managed to divide Malta by insisting on going ahead with an incomplete and unacceptable package that was taken to the people prematurely.

Encouraged by the EU ambassador in Malta, the Maltese government was led to believe that there was no room for improvement to the deal presented last December.

A new Labour government, in just over a year and in collaboration with the opposition and all the social partners, would secure a better deal for Malta containing the necessary constitutional safeguards which would guarantee Malta's freedom and survival within an open, democratic and constitutional Europe. This can be achieved in the national interest.

The question remains, why did the government rush into organising a referendum before any of the other accession states while parliament was still divided over the issue? Why did the government fail to create the conditions for talks with the parliamentary opposition in view of the fact that any deal with Europe has to be ratified by the Maltese parliament?

The minister of foreign affairs was reported to have stated that the EU would not have relations with an elected Labour government. Is such an untruthful declaration in the national interest? Foreign policy must rise above partisan interests. Malta cannot afford to continue to be divided on matters of national interest related to the future of Malta.

The member states and the European institutions have been very respectful and positive in responding to the requests made by Malta during the negotiations. EU-Malta relations will continue to be based on the same constructive diplomacy irrespective of who leads the Maltese government.

Being split is not a unique Maltese characteristic. Europe is also divided over the war in Iraq. The war is under way because political and diplomatic efforts have failed.

As Pat Cox said in the European Parliament, over which he presides, a house divided against itself diminishes itself.

In Malta, we are risking serious conflict among ourselves because the necessary diplomatic channels for dialogue are not even in place.

Throughout Malta's constitutional development, Malta had national leaders such as Dom Mintoff and Gorg Borg Olivier who, when it mattered and despite their other confrontations, were able to rise to the occasion in the national interest.

At this historical junction, Malta needs a Labour government that provides leadership and unity before it becomes too late.