Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1035530
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 OCTOBER 2018 7 that the Labour Party is al- ready isolated among the Eu- ropean socialists. In fact, Muscat may wield more influence among more like-minded pro-business politicians than within his party's traditional political family. With Britain leaving the EU, Muscat may prefer to have influence among like- minded politicians than being isolated. Moreover, unlike the fed- eralism advocated by liberal leader Verhofstadt who also signed the article, the kind of Europeanism pushed by Ma- cron is one which gives more power to the European coun- cil (composed of head of gov- ernments) and not the com- mission and parliament. Moreover, Muscat has more in common with liberal cen- trist parties than with the so- cialists, some of which have to contend with forces on their left. Thus while some may fol- low Muscat into Macron's embrace, others may be more interested in teaming up with forces to their left. Socialist governments backed by forces to their left, like the left block and Podem- os, already lead Spain and Portugal. Muscat who was quick to tweet his support for Manuel Valls who is trying to unseat Barcelona's left-wing mayor Ada Colau betrayed his preference for bland Eu- ropean centrism over radi- cal democratic experiments. While Macron may wish to turn next year's election into a simple choice between the far right and the political cen- tre, such a dichotomy ignores those who reject xenophobia but also question neo-liberal policies. It remains doubtful whether a centrist alliance will help in stopping the march of the far right. In fact, Salvini seems relish- ing the prospect of a Europe- an-wide contest, which pits populists against the French President who is perceived to represent the establishment. In many ways Macron may well be perceived as the Eu- ropean equivalent of a Hi- lary Clinton. Salvini may well be in greater trouble facing the European equivalent of a Bernie Sanders. Salvini is likely to get a boost from any attempt by the com- mission to reign in his govern- ment's budget. For how can the commission reprimand Italy for a 2.6 per cent defi- cit when France announced a higher-than-expected deficit of 2.8 percent? While Muscat may be in- suring his political future by gambling on a wider alliance in the knowledge that while his party is a sure winner, lo- cally the European Socialists are heading to defeat, the Na- tionalist Party will still end forming part of the largest parliamentary group; the Eu- ropean People's Party. Yet this party will be increas- ingly divided between liberal centrists who may be closer to Macron and more right-wing conservatives who are closer to Salvini. In this sense by emphasising immigration as an issue, Adrian Delia may be following a European trend. One major incognita remains whether a far-right outfit may grab votes from both PN and PL. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt MEWS ANALYSIS While Macron may wish to turn next year's election into a simple choice between the far right and the political centre, such a dichotomy ignores those who reject xenophobia but also question neo-liberal policies Request for Quotations CNC Panel Saw with Lifting Table S.A.W. Ltd was set up in 1991 and has established itself as a leading manufacturer of unique quality custom-built bespoke furniture. A copy of the "Request for Quotation" for the provision of CNC Panel Saw with Lifting Table document can be requested by sending an email to info@saw.com.mt. Quotations are to be received by email on info@saw.com.mt by not later than noon (Local Time) on Monday 15 th October 2018. back into the European mainstream