The omens are being interpreted. As the next general election is due within a few months, we are already being fed with informed opinions on who is going to win the next election. I have my prediction as well, but I will reserve it to further down, after I build my argument. Most of the opinions I read did not convince me, as there was some hidden agenda. When the general secretary of the Nationalist Party was happy about an opinion poll, he was galvanising the support of his party. When others wrote that the Nationalist Party is losing, they were ringing alarm bells to the supporters, again to galvanise them into action.
What I know for sure is that the Maltese electorate has changed radically over the years. Ideology is now the hallmark of a few. Party allegiance remains, but to a reduced level. The average voter is an individual and very individualistic in his assessment of the options, which means that a big sector of the electorate has its own image of the ideal party in government, with his own political programme, which may be very eclectic on issues.
This scenario makes it more difficult to predict who is going to win and by what margin. Although certain signs are indicating one direction, it is always too early to make an intelligent assessment. The gurus of opinion polls revel in their exploits, and make money out of it. No one is going to hold them to account. On the other hand, such polls are expected to guide political parties in their approach to the electorate.
Coming from a member of the Labour Party, this may seem as a pessimistic outlook on the chances of the Labour Party. It is not. It is a realistic assessment, and experience has shown that a shift in votes may occur during a campaign, and even on the eve of polling day. The main political question on the minds of voters today is when the next general election is going to be held.
According to the Constitution it is the prime minister who decides when, provided that he remains within the time limits established by the Constitution and gives enough time, according to the electoral laws and its time frames. In my opinion, not even the prime minister knows for sure, as he would be weighing so many hypothetical factors, which he deems to give his party a better chance. So why ask me? I promised to give my prediction about which party will win the next election. There is a very simple answer. The party that, on polling day, will get the highest number of votes cast and counted as valid. That is the only opinion poll in which I believe and which I respect.
Uplift for the Police?
Naturally nothing more can be said about the next election, but there are so many things that are here and now. Recently I wrote about the morale within the Police corps. I have received more interesting information. Police officers have to attend exercise sessions and are supplied with their kit. It transpired that there is a strong impetus on transparency in the force, which is not limited to Police Day when the members parade through the main streets of Valletta.
Male and female members have noticed that their shorts are transparent. Against the light they show as a thin veil, defining the contours and more. WPCs are also given tops which, not waiting to become transparent with the fluids of exercise, show even when totally dry.
My question is whether a uniformed police officer, watching such a show, would take out his notebook and book all those who would be contravening Article 338(q) of the Criminal Code about being dressed decently in public, whatever that may really mean. By the way, and this gives me some satisfaction, I was informed that, after my column mentioning that police officers were not paid for their extra hours at other government departments, the situation seems to be in hand now.
Conferences and contacts
There is always a whole troop of public officials going every week to Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, for conferences that are intended to have a ripple effect on the countries of the European Union and the Council of Europe. It seems that we are not only slow, but also reluctant, to change. We concede to save face, but then at the same time we try to pull one back in return. I have seen this happening in MEPA and also in the legal field. We always know better. We show that we comply but we do not conform.
These conferences and contacts are expensive, and doubly so. It is not only a question of air travel and accommodation in the distant city. It is also a drain on local resources. If these are to no avail, we should start thinking, at least, to get the best results at the lowest costs. Or am I speaking against the interests of those who find such trips an end in themselves?