Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1504427
NEWS ANALYSIS 9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 JULY 2023 fined by its social conservatism which in Spain brings back memories of Franco's church- backed dictatorship. Inevitably the result which saw Vox losing 19 seats, ar- rests a trend in Europe which saw the far right joining cen- tre-right government coa- litions in Italy, Sweden and Finland and raised the spectre of a similar coalition in the Eu- ropean parliament after next June's elections, as advocated by EPP chief Manfred Weber. And while in Germany some exponents in the CDU were warming up to regional alli- ances with the AFD another social conservative and Euro- sceptic outfit, this has created consternation among more liberal elements in the party. The Spanish election does underscore the risk of a pop- ular backlash against culture wars advocated by the far right which can turn elections into a stark choice between social liberalism and social conserv- atism. For while on paper the sum of the centre right and the far right can be majoritarian in several EU countries, the fear of coalitions involving far right elements may itself push the political centre to the left. The PN's balancing act Unlike Spain, Malta lacks an effective and coherent far- right voice like Vox. Instead, far right parties remain frag- mented and are associated with fringe and eccentric per- sonalities who normally make some noise in MEP elections only to wither away in subse- quent years. Moreover, with the notable exception of abortion where the PN's stance is to the right of the far right, the party has officially endorsed most of the liberal reforms promoted by Labour, including marriage equality and gender identity laws. Yet periodically certain PN exponents also send a message that shows discomfort with these reforms as was the case recently in posts by Nationalist MPs misrepresenting a pride event which involved children. Moreover, with regards to irregular immigration, the PN keeps chasing with the hounds and running with the hares, by focusing its criticism on an economic model relying on foreign workers while sound- ing less hawkish than Labour with regards to irregular mi- gration. With polls showing Labour in decline but the PN mak- ing very few inroads especial- ly among younger voters, the party finds itself in a quandary; should it present itself as a big tent where liberal voters can feel at ease, or should it focus on galvanising its core vote by reinforcing its conservative identity? Surely at this critical junc- ture the PN can't afford any competition from the far right or any internal backlash from conservative forces who may abstain if the party drifts fur- ther away from its conserva- tive roots. But neither can the party af- ford to give Abela the oppor- tunity of doing a Sanchez by presenting the next elections as a stark choice between a forward-looking progressive Malta and the conservatism of the past. And with Metso- la running as the party's front candidate in next June's elec- tion, the party must be careful not to upset her apple cart by alienating social liberals who could potentially see her as a safe bet in giving a drubbing to Labour. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola