Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462882
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 5 IT'S never a straightforward af- fair penning this column on the eve of an election. There have been many sur- veys predicting the final elec- toral result. MaltaToday has gone for a 28,000 difference in its polling, while others were going as far as giving Labour a 40,000-vote lead. But the Polar surveys are based on a robust methodology that is, as much as is possible, free of any bias on interpretation. Today we will know whether this number-crunching exer- cise will be close to the final result. But beyond the numbers game, what is needed now is clear political direction from Robert Abela. All surveys have awarded him a definite win, the big question is by how much. In elections, especially Mal- tese ones, the winner takes all – even by one vote. Labour have raised expectations, so anything not close to a 35,000 difference will be a disappoint- ment for its followers, even though super-majorities like these cannot possibly last. The problem for Robert Ab- ela is not about numbers, but about whether he wants to gov- ern as a visionary, with a mis- sion for the country, or simply get on with the business of having landed himself the most powerful job in the country. If it is the first option, then the first step he should take is to have a smaller Cabinet. It will be a difficult political decision to make and one that will al- ienate him from some ex-min- isters but he needs to have a manageable team around him, and one that shines in the dark- est of moments. His last Cab- inet was not exactly a get-to- gether of Harvard 'A' students. At times it behaved like some boċċi club committee. His second decision is to award ministerial portfolios based on the criterion of capa- bility, not on how many first- count votes were scooped up by candidates. The prerogative here should be to appoint min- isters on consideration of com- petence, not popularity. The third decision is to ap- point a steering committee of heavyweights that can han- dle the challenges of the crisis ahead of us, that is, the impact of the Ukrainian invasion, its economic impact, but also Malta's outdated concept of neutrality. Fourthly, he will have to fig- ure out how this country's de- mography and political culture has changed to address vari- ous new themes tackled in this electoral campaign. If Robert Abela wants to be proud of his legacy and mature in his role as prime minister, one important mission is a ma- jor overhaul of our Constitu- tion, that modernises it with wide stakeholder consultation, a serious reform of the elector- al law that focuses on the coun- try's political duopoly to open up to diversity and pluralism for new political formations in Malta, and to continue on La- bour's major social reforms. He will also have to handle a shake-up of the institutions that govern a segment of our fourth pillar in democracy, most especially the outdated Broadcasting Authority, and to provide a safety net, both fiscal and structurally, for independ- ent media companies and pub- lic broadcasting. There will even have to be a real appraisal of where the country should be heading in 10, 15 years, the challenges of the climate crisis, decarbonisa- tion, and the kind of economic model we have put into place. And it's not something that can left in the hands of some Young Turk at Labour HQ, but with a national conference that brings together the best minds of this country. What happens today, will also determine what the future for Malta's largest opposition par- ty. The Nationalist Party has a wonderful opportunity to rede- fine itself and prepare for the next electoral challenges. The opportunity is there for the taking, and the PN must rise to the occasion and address their shortcomings and convert to a modern party, a party that can reflect the aspirations of a changing society for an alter- native government in waiting. And the winner is... Saviour Balzan If Robert Abela wants to be proud of his legacy and mature in his role as prime minister, one important mission is a major overhaul of our Constitution, that modernises it with wide stakeholder consultation