Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1517065
10 OPINION 7.3.2024 MEP elections: Understanding cultural conservatism George Mangion George Mangion is a senior partner at PKF, an audit and consultancy firm, and has over 25 years' experience in accounting, taxation, financial and consultancy services. His efforts have made PKF instrumental in establishing many companies in Malta and established PKF as a leading professional financial service provider on the Island S o far, candidates approved by political parties to con- test the EP elections next June, have been very careful to toe the party line and express particular ideologies. Obviously, they want us to vote for them assuring us that they will do their best to pro- tect our future. But do voters stop and question what are the different points of view that criss-cross the political spec- trums reigning in the European Parliament? Primarily we meet cultural conservatism. is has been observed in various Europe- an countries, and the trend has been influenced by a range of factors, including geopolitical events and shifts in global poli- tics. e trend towards cultural conservatism in Europe has been influenced by various factors, including concerns about security and stability in the face of geopolitical events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the rise of conserva- tive political movements in the United States, conflicts in the Middle East and Houthis rebel fighters at the Red Sea. ese events have contribut- ed to a climate of uncertainty and have led to a re-evaluation of cultural and national identi- ty in some European countries. It's important to note that the trend towards cultural con- servatism is complex and mul- tifaceted, and it is influenced by a wide range of factors beyond just geopolitical events. Eco- nomic, social, and historical factors also play a significant role in shaping cultural and po- litical attitudes in Europe. Some European countries where cultural conservatism has shown a preference include Poland: Poland has seen a rise in cultural conservatism, with the government promoting traditional values and policies aligned with conservative so- cial and cultural norms. Another strong contender for the title is Hungary. It has also experienced a shift towards cultural conservatism, with the government emphasizing traditional family values and a focus on preserving national identity and heritage. Malta has leaned towards cul- tural conservatism during the period of the Fenech Adami administration. Lately we meet Georgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy. Italy, has a history of cultural conserv- atism, with certain political movements and parties advo- cating for the preservation of traditional cultural values and customs. Political observers in Mal- ta may stop and ask what are the main divergences between conservative and left-leaning factions at the next EU elec- tions. Some of the main diver- gences may include: 1. Economic Policies: Con- servative factions may pri- oritize economic liberalism, emphasizing free market prin- ciples, deregulation, and lower taxes. In contrast, left-leaning factions may advocate for more interventionist economic poli- cies, such as increased regula- tion, progressive taxation, and support for social welfare pro- grams. 2. Social Welfare: Left-leaning factions are likely to prioritize social welfare policies, includ- ing healthcare, education, and social safety nets, with an em- phasis on reducing income in- equality and providing support for vulnerable populations. Conservative factions may fo- cus on promoting individual responsibility and private sec- tor solutions for social welfare. 3. Environmental Protection: Left-leaning factions are ex- pected to prioritize environ- mental protection and climate action, advocating for policies to address climate change, promote renewable energy, and protect natural resourc- es. Conservative factions may prioritize economic consider- ations and may be more cau- tious about the extent of envi- ronmental regulations. 4. Immigration and Multicul- turalism: Conservative factions may emphasize national sov- ereignty, border security, and cultural conservatism, with a focus on controlling immigra- tion and preserving tradition- al cultural values. Left-leaning factions may prioritize inclu- sivity, with an emphasis on hu- man rights and diversity. 5. Governance and Democ- racy: Left-leaning factions may advocate for inclusive govern- ance, democratic reforms, and social justice, with a focus on addressing systemic inequali- ties and promoting participa- tory democracy. Conservative factions may prioritize national sovereignty, law and order, and traditional governance struc- tures. e above five categories may not be exhaustive but a voter in Malta had better inform his/ her opinion how to vote. ere are significant divergences which reflect the broader ide- ological differences between conservative and left-leaning factions such as the issue of tackling climate change and achieving net zero emissions. In Malta one of the socialist government's top priorities was to stop generating electricity using cheap fuel oil and instead to support Electrogas (a private company to which it issued a €350 million bank guarantee) to generate 200 Mwatt supply of electricity using LNG exclu- sively through the services of a floating gas tanker. ere was no national policy to invest in upstreaming for oil in EEZ waters. Other key dif- ferences in approach include regulatory measures. A left-wing party may prior- itize more stringent regulatory measures to enforce emissions reductions. Conservative fac- tions may be more cautious about the extent of regulato- ry intervention, emphasizing market-based solutions and voluntary measures to reduce emissions. Conservative parties may prioritize private sector in- vestment and market-driven solutions, emphasizing the role of innovation and technology in addressing climate change. A Conservative approach may focus on minimizing economic disruptions and may be more cautious about the potential impacts on certain industries and sectors. As a general rule, govern- ments of both ideologies are likely to emphasize the im- portance of international co- operation and multilateral agreements to address climate change, such as supporting the Paris Agreement and advocat- ing for global climate action. ese policy divergences re- flect the broader ideological differences between conserv- ative and left-wing factions in their approaches to addressing climate change, reduce nation- al debt, fight inflation, tackle cost of living increases, attract FDI, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. e specific policy proposals and legislative initiatives put forward by indi- vidual parties and movements within these factions will fur- ther disclose particular diver- gences in approach. One may also ask what are the typical ideologies of Social- ist governments in Europe. As mentioned earlier, such poli- cies may include strong gov- ernment intervention and weak migration frameworks to fuel population growth as a gov- ernment policy so as to lower cost of production by licensing more low-skilled TNC's. On average one finds that left-leaning governments strive for environmental justice, en- suring that climate policies do not disproportionately affect low-income and marginalized communities and prioritize higher welfare benefits. To conclude, voters at the next MEP elections need to examine closely manifestos is- sued by all factions in order to elect bonafide candidates who through their presence at the European Parliament, can im- prove our green infrastructure, renewable energy, introduce mass transportation, eliminate cronyism, provide security against future aggressors, low- er the cost of living, and facil- itate the arduous transition to net-zero.