Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1216530
I would say that it's already evolving into something else… though it is possibly too early to say what, exactly, it will morph into. People have mentioned various possibilities, modelled on other countries such as Japan, Singa- pore or Sweden. In each of these countries, over the past 20 years, there has been one mainstream political par- ty – typically centre, in terms of ideology – acting as a broad tent, which allows that party to maintain a winning coalition of interests… with smaller parties on the side, none of which ca- pable of securing a majority. It is possible that a similar situation will evolve locally… Might I propose another anal- ogy? Italy in the 1980s: when there was a coalition of five par- ties – the 'Pentapartito' – coming together to keep the Communists out of power. Given the emer- gence of new political forces – for instance PD, and NGOs such as Repubblika and Occupy Justice – do you see that as a possible future for Maltese politics? The civil society groups you mention have not formed po- litical parties yet… but they might: just like the 'Moviment ghal-Ambjent' became Alter- nattiva Demokratika in the late 1980s. I think that, historically, is the only case where a civil so- ciety movement evolved into a political party; and it's still there, all these years later. The difference, however, is that it is much easier to form a coalition of smaller parties when there is a common objective… or enemy. After the heady days of independence, liberalisation and EU membership, what are the exciting strategic objectives of the PN in 2020? I am still trying to find out. Isn't 'opposition to Labour' the common objective, though? No, I don't think so. The La- bour Party is not a 'common enemy' to all those groupings. Many of the practices they have complained about in recent times, would possibly have oc- curred with different politicians in power... because the system is what it is, regardless who's in power. I like to call it a game of 'mu- sical chairs': we change incum- bents, we change individual politicians… but what else really changes? Take the appointment of judges and magistrates, for in- stance. What system could pos- sibly guarantee that the judiciary is impartial? And are we going to completely eliminate the role of the Prime Minister in that func- tion? If so, wouldn't the Prime Minister still remain involved indirectly… for instance, by nominating the people who would be involved in nominat- ing judges? So what sort of system would you consider ideal for a coun- try with Malta's size and dy- namics? It's not a question of having an 'ideal' system. The two-par- ty system has its advantages: particularly to the party in pow- er, which enjoys a monopoly on most decision-making sys- tems… But that's an advantage for government, not for the coun- try… It's an advantage for govern- ment, certainly, but it could also translate into an advantage for the country. Let me put it an- other way: any system is going to create opportunities for poli- ticians; and it will evolve in re- sponse to the prevailing political culture. Then, once you have a system in place, it will spawn a political culture of its own. Here in Malta, for the past 50 years we have inherited a sys- tem where the Prime Minister is basically a benevolent dicta- tor. The power of the Opposi- tion is extremely limited; and the government has practically zero obligation to adopt its rec- ommendations. There is only an obligation to 'consult'… but what does that really mean, in practice? Nonetheless, that's the way the system has always worked. And one of its advantages is that it is not caught in gridlock. Look at what's happening in the USA right now, for instance… in Con- gress and the Senate. That kind of ambivalence cannot happen in a system like Malta's. But do you think the national interest is really served under those circumstances? Yes. We keep criticising the system… but in reality, it works. It has delivered the resignation of Malta's strongest Prime Min- ister to date; as well as the elec- tion of a complete outsider – as opposed to someone associated with Muscat – to replace him. There have been strong pres- sures for change; there are ministers who now admit that something was rotten in the State of Denmark before… isn't this all evidence of a function- ing system? 9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 MARCH 2020 INTERVIEW Is there a 'dark streak' in Maltese culture?... there seems to be a certain 'mock-heroism' associated with individuals who have beaten the system… and who are now getting flak from all people and institutions that are perceived to be 'self- righteous' We keep criticising the system… but in reality, it works. It has delivered the resignation of Malta's strongest Prime Minister to date