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10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 NOVEMBER 2018 JUDGING by the speeches of the two political leaders earlier on this week, political ideology seems to be making a comeback after years of pragmatic cen- trism in Maltese politics. If both leaders are correct, the Maltese political pendulum has swung abruptly to the right, with Malta facing a choice between a neoliberal who cares little about the poor, and a populist far-right Opposition just a step away from hounding migrants in the streets. In reality, both cases are a caricature of a more complex reality. The Labour government actu- ally pumps money into the wel- fare state and its main distinctive mark is reconciling its pro-busi- ness approach in fostering eco- nomic growth, with a strong welfarist emphasis. And while Delia does, on oc- casions, succumb to right-wing instincts on immigration, his Budget speech was exclusively focused on the threat of cheap labour and the pressure of the growing population on Malta's infrastructure. Had Delia been a clone of Matteo Salvini or Marine Le Pen he would have focused on black asylum seek- ers or refugees – who according to surveys are still the main mi- gration concern of the Maltese – rather than foreign workers, many of whom hail from EU and other European countries. The risk is that while Delia may only be speaking about numbers, voters are also likely to blame the faces behind these numbers for their daily problems. For it is always easier to blame those who are more vulnerable than those who are more powerful. From Mintoff to Fenech Adami, to Muscat Does the approach of both leaders represent a rupture with the respective past of both par- ties as both Delia and Muscat suggested in their speech? Delia himself quoted Mint- off scion Yana Mintoff Bland's warning that the Maltese econ- omy was based on precarious work, to underline this betrayal of the party's socialist tradi- tion. But Muscat's economic approach still represents an el- ement of continuity with his party's 1970s focus on fostering the growth of a 'national bour- geoisie' to ensure the creation of enough wealth for redistribution to the working class. As Mintoff once explained in one of his par- ables, the rich are like the ocean whose wealth is evaporated by the socialist state to ensure that there is enough rain to replenish the soil, which feeds the work- ers. Even back then, the PN lam- basted Mintoff for promoting a brand of exploitative state capi- talism. But while the Mintof- fian model hinged on redistribu- tion through taxation, Muscat's model hinges on increasing tax revenues derived from sustained economic growth, a policy which is reminiscent of Eddie Fenech Adami's economic model… mi- nus the structural deficits. And this may be why Muscat has pressed hard on the acceler- ator in sectors like construction and tourism, while finding new sources of easy revenue like the sale of Maltese passports, but is also struggling to attract pivotal industries like medical cannabis, Blockchain economy, and now Artificial Intelligence – all of which are yet to leave their mark on the Maltese economy. This was how Muscat man- aged to avoid the dilemma fac- ing other European social dem- ocratic parties that have had to choose between raising taxes at the risk of a capital flight, or continue austerity policies advo- cated by the right wing. Muscat has managed to remain 'fiscally conservative' without resorting to austerity. Yet his timidity in addressing rising inequalities and sheer greed – not to men- tion the strong perception of corruption and lack of good governance – may be catching up with him as inflation bites off a greater portion of incomes. Delia's "intelligent" blueprint Delia did make an effort to pre- sent his own alternative model based on what he called "intel- ligent migration", which would restrict non-EU migration to skilled labour while attracting more "productive" investments. He also vaguely hinted at further tax cuts and more pro-business policies, peppered by a greater concern for the environment. This suggests that despite the rhetoric, there is more conver- gence than divergence in the models adopted by the main po- litical parties. In some ways this reflects the realities of an island nation, which lacks natural re- sources but can offer competi- tive advantages to potential in- vestors. Yet in the end both parties seem to converge on the need for growth-oriented policies, which inevitably raise questions of long-term sustainability. And both converge on not confront- ing the business class, an un- derstandable approach given the needs of a small economy to capitalise on its entrepreneur- ship. But one cannot ignore the ten- dency of the Maltese business class to use political influence to secure cheap access to resources like land. For Delia immigration serves as a convenient theme not to confront the elephant in the room: the fat cats who benefit from endless construction, and the wider segment of the popu- lation benefitting from higher rents and the availability of cheaper labour. For it is more politically convenient to scare- monger about numbers than to risk losing consent from the NEWS JAMES DEBONO There is a gap in the political left, which has been filled by ad hoc coalitions of social justice activists lobbying for an increase in the minimum wage, more affordable housing and a change in environmental policies VACANCY Marble Labourer Job Description: Installing marble according to design and measurements, Operating marble cutting machinery in a factory, Polishing Marble Salary: €8,971 per annum Requirements: Knowledge of English Language, Clean Police Conduct, Know how to cut, polish and install marble To apply: Send a CV on cinimarbles@yahoo.com This week's Budget speeches saw both leaders accusing each other of being right-wing: Muscat for betraying his socialist principles and Delia his Christian- democratic credentials. Was it posturing or did it ref lect a degree of truth? Mirror, on the Who's the right-wing of us