Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530039
7 ANALYSIS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2024 Christmas or snowballing into 2025? especially given the controversy over local plan changes accom- modating more development on the Villa Rosa site. Public opprobrium largely tar- geted Bartolo, whose wife was the beneficiary, while Camilleri, who gained nothing personally, was spared much of the outrage. However, the separate accusa- tion involving a €50,000 consul- tancy fee awarded to Muscat – 18 months after her government job was terminated – by a com- pany linked to an Italian cyclist who had previously been offered an MTA contract, gave Abela the justification to dismiss Bartolo without also removing Camilleri. The political fallout Three weeks is a long time for a PM to make up his mind in such circumstances. Rather than nipping the prob- lem in the bud, Abela allowed the wound to fester, reinforcing the perception that Labour has de- generated into a self-serving club where insiders gorge on public funds. The fact that Muscat now fac- es allegations of kickbacks, albeit from a private company that ap- parently hired her after clinching a contract with her husband's ministry, only deepens this per- ception. Even worse, the decision to sack Bartolo was itself a reaction to another damning media story re- volving around the minister and his partner's consultancy exploits. Rather than appearing as a PM in control, Abela seemed to be react- ing to events that had overtaken him. As public anger mounts, atten- tion may now shift to Camilleri's role in hiring Muscat as an over- paid consultant. Although he is not accused of personal gain – making him less vulnerable – he remains a target for the Oppo- sition to keep the scandal in the news cycle. In short, his presence in the Cabinet makes it even hard- er for Abela to wrap up this mess and consign it to history. And while not everyone may be aware of the case's details, this makes the scandal even trickier for Labour to contain. The risk is that this anger could spiral into uglier forms, as seen in several so- cial media memes targeting Mus- cat's appearance and gender. Erosion of another layer of trust Abela has left too many loose ends for the matter to be fully resolved. While the public may eventually move on, this episode is likely to resurface if another Labour scandal emerges. And although Labour has weathered worse controversies, including cases of ministers opening secret companies in Panama, each suc- cessive scandal erodes another layer of trust, leaving Robert Abela increasingly exposed. Ultimately, Abela's greatest weakness is his failure to trans- form his party by making the an- ti-corruption battle his own and sending a clear message that La- bour stands for honesty, integrity, and progressive social reforms. To win over middle-ground and principled voters in the next election, Abela must broaden his talent pool, attract individuals with substance and integrity, and tackle systemic issues that deter such people from entering poli- tics – such as the paltry salaries of MPs and ministers. However, the perception of politicians indulging in public funds will make these re- forms harder to implement. Abela may still have time to re- verse the trend, but he must act swiftly. Achieving this requires rekindling a genuine passion for politics. However, the pressing question remains: Can this be ac- complished with a compromised team led by a coach who appears either unwilling or unable to take control? While decisive action could have saved Abela from being caught in a downward spiral, the case was further complicated by Camilleri's involvement. The Standards Commissioner also reprimanded Camilleri, a Gozo constituency heavyweight with a sensitive planning portfolio.