Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1332685
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 JANUARY 2021 have been overshadowed by the farce of Gavin Gulia's instant resignation after the casual elec- tion. But the end result was a welcome addition of a respect- ed non-partisan disability cam- paigner to Labour's group. Sci- cluna has suggested intends to retain his freedom of calling a spade a spade. Even when it came to other posts like that of animal rights commissioner Alison Bezzina and domestic violence commis- sioner Audrey Friggieri, iron- ically in their respective roles they clashed with vocal support- ers of the Labour government namely zookeeper Anton Cuta- jar and architect Robert Muscu- meci. And the overhaul of top posts in the police force has gone a long way in restoring public confidence in the institutions, even if it still has to be matched with concrete results on the Daphne assassination and Pan- amagate. While there have been signs of greater openness, in other sectors like public broad- casting Abela has shown a great- er inclination to retain partisan control, and placing hunting and trapping in the portfolio of Gozo minister Clint Camilleri confirmed Abela's subservience to the hunting lobby. Like Gonzi, Abela strikes a bal- ance between big business and communities on issues like the environment, in a situation al- ready skewed in favour of de- velopment Abela will keep striking the bal- ance between development and the environment, without de- parting from an economic mod- el whose growth is on steroids. Unsurprisingly this is reflected in the decision by big business groups close to the Muscat ad- ministration to 'downsize' their projects, as has been the case with the DB project on public land in Pembroke. Aaron Farrugia's appointment as environment minister was matched by an overhaul of PA boards and a reform of the con- troversial rural policy of 2014. But Abela failed in reining in Infrastructure Malta, which has shown increased disregard for the environment and agri- cultural land, leading promi- nent Labour figures like former leader Alfred Sant and former President Marie Louis Coleiro expressing their dissent. While road projects tend to be popu- lar with motorists, Labour risks alienating both niches of prin- cipled voters and communities whose lives are ruined by such projects. He has retained the positivity mantra even through COVID-19, generating optimism at the risk of raising expectations and sending mixed messages Abela consistently took the role of the "optimist" in contrast to Chris Fearne's more sober approach during the pandemic. While suggesting a contrasting approach between the former ri- vals, it may well have addressed the concerns of different catego- ries of society. Abela's optimism resonated with business groups as well as working class voters fearing for their future and lack- ing the comforts that make lock- down bearable. But there were moments in which Abela was carried away, giving the impression that a quick return to normality was possible by summer thanks to the vaccine, despite unpredict- able factors like more resistant COVID variants and difficulties in the supply chain of the vac- cine. Abela is banking on the feel-good factor and a wave of optimism that is likely to grip the country when herd immuni- ty is achieved. On euthanasia and cannabis, he seems keen on keeping the progressive edge Abela has killed speculation of being more conservative than Muscat. On abortion he reaf- firmed the official line against its introduction, but his govern- ment started a reform of divorce laws to shorten the separation period as well as reaffirmed sup- port for the legalisation of can- nabis, and for a debate on eu- thanasia, two issues which may reopen a wedge between the PN and younger, more liberal vot- ers. Although Grech pre-empted Abela's divorce move by em- bracing it, legalising cannabis and embracing euthanasia – which enjoys broader support than abortion – may be a step too far for conservatives in the PN. Abela too risks alienating more cautious elements in his own party, but the promise of le- galising cannabis may well sway another niche of voters. At the same time Labour's liberalism on some civil liber- ties often contrasts with the illiberalism of its supporters' rants against government crit- ics, NGOs and the independ- ent media. One dangerous trait is Abela's willingness to deploy anti-immigration sentiment in his bid to silence critical voic- es questioning his migration policies. Abela could have left a more definitive mark had he invested the same energy in re- ducing the dose of partisan vit- riol among supporters, possibly by coming to an agreement with the opposition on the future clo- sure of partisan TV stations, and an overhaul of public broadcast- ing. He has shown less enthusiasm for wide-ranging constitutional reforms strengthening checks and balances, and party financ- ing laws, or to do away with the undue influence of big business on political decision-making. In the end Abela is still on track to win the next election by a considerable margin de- spite taking over during political meltdown and facing a global pandemic. But it remains un- clear whether he intends going down in history as a statesman or a successful partisan warlord. In the end Abela is still on track to win the next election by a considerable margin despite taking over during political meltdown and facing a global pandemic. But it remains unclear whether he intends going down in history as a statesman or a successful partisan warlord