Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1190498
types imported from the other side. Yet such an attitude would back- fire on Labour. For while Mus- cat's major error was to open up to everyone, irrespective of their integrity and financial interests, a party needs to reach out to voters from the other side to flourish. The resurgence of tribalism may prove useful in ensuring Muscat a "dig- nified exit" among supporters but its long-term consequences may be terrible. Labour and civil society Labour must also contend with a sizeable segment of non-partisans de- manding justice for Caruana Galizia and for constitutional reforms. Ruling these off because of antipathy towards the as- sassinated journalist would backfire on Labour. A symbolic gesture like naming an of- ficial building or street for the assassi- nated journalist would go some way to compensate for the ridiculous clearance of flowers from the shrine dedicated to her, opposite the law courts. The only way for a future Labour lead- er to restore his credentials among this influential sector, which includes many who support the party's civil liberties agenda, would be to ensure a swift and satisfactory solution of the Caruana Gali- zia case accompanied by a wider probe on the Panama scandal, the institutional paralysis which followed it, and other major scandals like that involving the sale of public hospitals to a shell com- pany. In such a context the appointment of a new Attorney General and Police Com- missioner is a sine quo non. In short people now deserve an answer to the big question: why did Muscat not remove Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi when they were exposed in the Panama papers? The cherry on the cake would be a strong drive for reforms aimed at setting a firewall against undue influence by big business as well as changes to the con- stitution to introduce more checks and balance. This may well be Labour's only way of reclaiming trust. It could also provide him with a compelling narrative to navi- gate country and party towards a bright- er and cleaner future. A collective bout of Stockholm syndrome? Yet the greatest risk facing Labour is that its supporters are gripped by a Stockholm syndrome, strengthening the hand of a restoration, just as has hap- pened Italy with the rise of Berlusconi – probably the most corrupt politician in contemporary Italian history – from the ashes of the defunct socialist and Chris- tian Democratic parties. In Malta the scenario of an outsider winning power to guarantee stability for the dominant classes is unlikely. But it is also possible that both parties can be taken over by elements which have the interests of the status quo at heart. The ease with which Labour was hijacked by a cabal stands as a reminder on how easi- ly any promise of change can be betrayed and how complacent the masses can be to dirt and even assassination. The strength of tribal loyalties may ex- plain Muscat's 42-day delay in keeping power and his rush to get a new leader elected during the festive season, depriv- ing his party of a period of reflection and soul-searching before deciding on who should lead it. For this is what happens when fast change at the top, triggered by judicial developments, happens in the absence of a robust, bottom-up moral awakening which cuts across partisan lines. Yet such a path is the most dangerous, as it would mean that democracy as we know it is no more. The key to change remains an awakening within the Labour Party. So far the signs coming out from the party have been mixed, weak and too apologetic for Muscat. This may not augur well for the task at hand. 7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 DECEMBER 2019 NEWS types imported from the other side. Yet such an attitude would back- fire on Labour. For while Mus- cat's major error was to open up to everyone, irrespective of their integrity and financial interests, a party needs to reach out to voters from the other side to flourish. The resurgence of tribalism may prove useful in ensuring Muscat a "dig- nified exit" among supporters but its long-term consequences may be terrible. Labour and civil society Labour must also contend with a sizeable segment of non-partisans de- manding justice for Caruana Galizia and for constitutional reforms. Ruling these off because of antipathy towards the as- sassinated journalist would backfire on Labour. A symbolic gesture like naming an of- ficial building or street for the assassi- nated journalist would go some way to compensate for the ridiculous clearance of flowers from the shrine dedicated to her, opposite the law courts. The only way for a future Labour lead- Horrific facts disenchanting middle of the road voters Jesmond Saliba Analyst, Corporate ID The rate with which things happened in the past days, the horrific account of facts, the apparent inaction from Joseph Muscat on the damning testimony in court on Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder and his insistence to remain in a way that is being interpreted to protect his aide have dented Joseph Muscat's legacy. If the situation persists, the problems for the Labour Party might be bigger. Many genuine Labour supporters expressed with me their anger at what happened, thus the current situation has definitely affected various cohorts of the Labour vote. Whether Labour's appeal lost in its strength is to be seen. Just as much as these incidents should not impinge on all of Malta, there are people within the Labour structures who expressed their dismay at what happened. It will be depending on how, whoever will succeed Muscat will act to restore the credibility of Malta and the Labour Party and its institutions and to what extent the irreparable damage that Malta's reputation has undergone in the past weeks, will impact our economy. Moderates might feel further disenchanted by the political class, and as such, just as much as the PN lost its appeal in the past, those who 'switched' Labour might feel disappointed. This will also affect the business community. I believe that this issue will impact negatively the political parties, in general, especially from voters who are in the middle of the spectrum. Floating voters are horrified Desmond Zammit Marmara Ex-Labour councillor Given the circumstances of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's resignation, it is probable that many floating voters, horrified by the several shocking revelations of the Caruana Galizia case, will shun Labour from now on. A lot will definitely depend on the appeal and the hard work of the new Labour leader. I believe that Chris Fearne is the ideal replacement in this regard. A politician of unimpeachable integrity, a paragon of efficiency and having already acquired much-needed valuable first-hand experience in the running of the country, he can be the solution to many of Labour's problems. I am sure that the Labour Party will, in the coming years, remain the natural home of all moderates and progressives. This was always the field in which Joseph Muscat's PL excelled. However, a big problem under Muscat was how the Labour Party abandoned its social democratic principles and sometimes put the interests of big business before those of the rest of Maltese citizens. This was a stark betrayal of what the Labour Party was founded for in 1920. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that Joseph Muscat's Labour Party was "Labour" only in name. As such, many voters will be eagerly watching to see if things will be different in this regard under the new Labour leader. Will the destruction of the environment go on? Will controversial projects objected to by the local councils and residents of a particular area still get the green light? Keep in mind that the opposing Nationalist Party is still there. Its last few years can only be described as shambolic. However, given the damage Labour has sustained, a reconciliation between the different Nationalist Party factions and, perhaps, a coalition with one or two of the smaller political parties could turn it into a serious contender in 2022. Muscat's Labour Party was "Labour" only in name