Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1363129
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 APRIL 2021 the PN's future? now have a clearer idea of what was happening under Muscat's watch then they did in 2017. Is Malta ripe for change? The other problem for the PN is that vindication on cor- ruption cases following the arrest of key figures like Keith Schembri and revelations which raised even more ques- tions on Konrad Mizzi's energy deals, has not translated in any electoral advances for the PN. One simplistic reading would be that the Maltese actually 'like' corruption and vote for the corrupt… but this could ac- tually be more of a case where Maltese voters expect such is- sues to be resolved by the police and the courts, while choosing parties on the basis of how they govern. This is why the focus of the PN should be on strength- ening the institutions to avoid this from happening again. Still, institutional sanity – al- though necessary – is hardly a strong battle-cry to mobilise voters. It can feature in a vote- for-change platform, which itself can embody different is- sues ranging from the environ- ment and good governance to stagnant wages and affordable housing. But it would not be easy for a party whose elector- ate is split on social issues and still kept together by an aver- sion to Labour. By seeking a third consecutive mandate, Labour under Abela is defying one unwritten rule: that Maltese electorates tend to become itchy af- ter 10 years with the same par- ty in government, a rule which they followed to the letter be- tween 1962 and 1996 and that was only broken by Gonzi's wa- fer-thin majority in 2008. By co-opting a new crop of MPs in parliament and distanc- ing himself from Muscat, Abe- la may himself be playing the same game, presenting himself as the one offering change in continuity. Surviving to fight another day Ultimately, to win a gener- al election the PN will have to convince voters that it is a 'government in waiting' which can satisfy the expectation of change. And to get there it first needs to elect a new crop of MPs which can eventually be seen by voters as a better alterna- tive to Labour. This means that for the PN the next election is an essential peg to launch a successful bid in the following election. If it fails to reduce the gap now, the PN risks con- demning itself to another de- feat in five years' time – for it is doubtful whether any party can ever reduce a 35,000-vote margin in five years. While logically the country will benefit in terms of curtail- ing the arrogance of the gov- ernment by narrowing the gap between the parties, it is un- realistic to expect most voters to make this calculation when voting. This is because most voters tend to vote for the par- ty they prefer in government, rather than strengthen the op- position. Therefore, to even achieve the modest aim of renewing its parliamentary group and re- ducing the gap, the PN has to convince voters that it has ca- pable and honest people who are ready to govern as from now. What is sure is that Grech does not have enough time to accomplish a 'to do list' which includes the formulation of new policies, while reacting to Labour's own policy agenda, finding new candidates, ap- point new officials, reach out to those who deserted the par- ty in the past years, identify a battle-cry, and formulating a coherent strategy which binds all those contesting on the PN ticket. It is clear that this can't be accomplished in the space of a few months. But that was exactly what PN members chose to do when they ditched the shambolic Adrian Delia leadership and elected a new leader just two years before elections are due. They may well have left Delia to sink and pick up the pieces after the election, even if many doubted whether there would have been any pieces left to pick up after what was seen as an imminent disaster. In reality, so far Grech has ac- complished what should have been achieved in the first two years in opposition. Time is definitely not on his side. But with time running out and his own political future in the bal- ance, Grech has no choice but to take drastic decisions to avert another massive defeat. Grech is conditioned by the need to avoid further internal conflict in his party. His power of persuasion will be severely tested. What is sure is that Grech does not have enough time to accomplish a 'to do list' which includes the formulation of new policies, while reacting to own policy agenda, finding new candidates, appoint new officials, reach out to those who deserted the party in the past years, identify a battle-cry, and formulating a coherent strateg y which binds all those contesting on the PN ticket By seeking a third consecutive mandate, Labour under Abela is defying one unwritten rule: that Maltese electorates tend to become itchy after 10 years with the same party in government, a rule which they followed to the letter between 1962 and 1996 and that was only broken by Gonzi's wafer-thin majority in 2008