Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1118959
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 MAY 2019 current PN, there may well be a larger cohort of liberal voters who had backed the PN before 2013 and may be having doubts on Labour now. The choice of abortion as a main battle-cry suggests that the PN still suffers from the identity crisis that afflicted it back in 2003, when the party won elections on the basis of its pro-EU mission, through which it reached out to a vast coalition of liberal, conservative and even left-wing voters. Following that, the PN found itself projecting itself as the safer pair of hands in government, a tactic which worked against Alfred Sant, but which ultimately failed against Muscat. Yet the same prospect may re- turn to haunt Labour. Presently the main issue which glues Labour together is Joseph Muscat's charisma and the positive performance of the Maltese economy. When it comes to many environ- mental and social issues, Labour is pregnant with contradictions. In fact Muscat's greatest skill is his role in bridg- ing over these d i f f e r e n c e s and project- ing a sense of purpose and unity. Yet like the PN before it, Labour is slowly be- coming more of a cheerlead- ing club for its leader and a factory of ap- pointees, than a place where ideas are discussed and resolved. Without Muscat at the helm, Labour risks a repeat of the Na- tionalist decline under Gonzi after Eddie Fenech Adami's de- parture. Nationalism filling the gap left by social justice This explains why European elections are so bland when it comes to issues, especially so- cial issues like the discrepancy between economic growth and wages, issues which could po- tentially endanger the pro business appeal of the two big parties. For while both parties are constantly portraying themselves as the de- fenders of Malta's tax regime from its mainly left- wing detrac- tors in Europe, they rarely speak about the need of h a r m o n i s a - tion on matters like welfare and wages. The danger is that Maltese vot- ers have now been conditioned not to consider these bread and butter issues relevant to any election. As amply displayed by some of its billboards, aspiration is now more important than social jus- tice and equality for Labour. One issue which has defied this trend, mainly thanks to a vibrant civil society, is the en- vironment. But with the excep- tion of Alternattiva Demokra- tika and a few other candidates, this is rarely framed in a radical critique of the dominant eco- nomic model. It is, therefore, no surprise that these elections have seen a resurgent nationalism which takes many forms, ranging from concern on foreign workers to an uncritical defence of reputa- tion and tax regime. In the end both parties have ended up de- fending Maltese exceptionalism on abortion and the tax regime. On taxation, Labour is clearly at odds with its own political family, whose lead candidate is clearly committed to push for an 18% minimum tax rate. No wonder a poll on issues by MaltaToday shows that some- thing as intangible as "pro- tecting Malta's reputation" is a more relevant issue for both PL and PN voters, than rising rents, low wages and over-de- velopment. NEWS EUROPEAN ELECTIONS Muscat is presenting the MEP elections as a direct contest between him and Adrian Delia, in full comfort of polls showing an unassailable trust lead 11/04/2019 15:22 INTERCONNECTIVITY TO MAINLAND EUROPE Malta, under a Labour administration, has managed to make excellent use of EU funds as reflected in the improvement of our road infrastructure. On the other hand, Malta's insularity is an issue which goes diametrically against the fundamental principle set up by the European Union, that is, the right of all EU citizens to freely travel from one Member State to another. The European Union is aware of the fact that, if it aspires to remain united, it must push towards the creation of jobs and be able to compete. Also for this reason the EU puts forward substantial grants to assist Member States to invest in a road system that will unite Member States thus making it simple and cheap to travel from one country to another such as is the case with the CEF and ERDF funds which are aimed at improving the Ten-T project or as is the case with the other ambitious project between Italy and Austria better referred to as the EVA+Electric Vehicles Arteries. For us to travel to Main Land Europe by car, one has to incur a hefty expense which may be a financial impediment for many. For European equality of rights to subsist in this sense, there must be equal access when it comes to deal with interconnectivity policies, and hence, if I were to be afforded your trust, I will be doing all that is necessary to bring about a situation where, when it comes to travel by car to mainland Europe, such a right would be equal and applicable to every EU Citizen. Our insularity issue must be addressed by Europe as is the case with Gozitans travelling to Malta. No EU citizen is ever to be barred from enjoying his right because of a financial impediment. We can never consider ourselves to be fully European once we are not in a position to enjoy the same rights, namely that of interconnectivity, as enjoyed by other Europeans within the Bloc. Candidate for the European Parliament Elections 2019