Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/258814
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2014 8 ENDOWED with the gravitas which comes from power, backed by an ap- parently united team and exuding the confidence of a popular leader, Joseph Muscat has articulated a vi- sion for the future of the country as a business friendly country where so- cial conflict is exorcised as enough wealth trickles down to improve the lot of the working classes. While noting that the Labour movement was not "envious of wealth" and inherently pro-busi- ness, the Labour leader reiterated his commitment to reducing bu- reaucracy and make Malta an "auto- matic" option for foreign investors. In so doing, Muscat may well be deliberately equating social conflict with "envy". But while envy is an ir- rational and unarticulated reaction to social inequality, class conflict is often motivated by a desire for a fairer redistribution of wealth. Cu- riously, it was the American Repub- lican politician – and presidential hopeful – Mitt Romney who had described President Barack Obama's focus on income inequality as "the politics of envy". While unlike Romney, Muscat is concerned with equality, it is un- clear whether Muscat is committed on reducing income inequality or is simply interested in having wealth trickle down from even higher tow- ers. In this aspect, Muscat seems to have departed from the social democratic tradition which views inequality in income distribution as an undesirable phenomenon which weakens social bonds. Muscat may also be treading on slippery terrain, considering that his socialist partners in Europe tend to favour higher rates of taxation, especially on financial speculation. Surely, by insisting that his gov- ernment is committed to turn Mal- ta in to "a global model," Muscat is once again revealing a Mintoffian character streak, that of thinking too highly of himself as the Prime Minister of a small island whose clout on the international stage is necessarily limited. Muscat has also found a way to reconcile his party's eurosceptic and autarkic past with the present realities of EU membership and globalisation, giving a strong indi- cation that his mindframe is that of exploiting any lucrative opportuni- ties offered by globalisation even at the cost of testing EU waters on is- sues like the sale of citizenship. "Malta is open for business, from everywhere. We are ready to work with whoever is ready to cooperate," Muscat said. The prime minister also said that Malta should shed its colonial mentality and be prepared to take "calculated risks". In fact over the past year, Muscat has shown more drive to project himself as a 'globalist' Tory than a continental social democrat, a po- litical vision which seeks to build on strategic sectors already cultivated by the previous administration which gave a competitive edge while seeking to defend this turf in an as- sertive tone. Rather than looking at the Euro- pean Union as a shelter from the worst ravages of globalisation by setting up higher social and envi- ronmental standard, Muscat seems to be keener on exploiting the wedge between a sclerotic old world and unrestrained but state-funded capi- talism in countries like China, Du- bai and Singapore. Describing the controversial citi- zenship scheme as an "innovative programme" Muscat said that the one billion euros in funds would be the beginning of a new prosperity, which will belong to us all. "This is our positive attitude, our vision for the country's future. This is the country I want my children to live in. I, together with all of you here, have the courage to become the best in Europe," he said as he was given a standing ovation by the hundreds of delegates gathered in the Labour headquarters in Ham- run. Still, such a vision remains prob- lematic. Nor is this model of de- velopment ideologically incongru- ent with left-wing credentials, as it creates a two-tier citizenship which discriminates between rich and poor migrants, on a practical News Muscat's vision: Do not covet thy (rich) neighbour The citizenship scheme itself does not reward "innovation creativity, enterprise and determination". Instead it crudely rewards wealth as an end to citizenship Muscat's confident speech on Sunday at the closure of the party's general conference may well inaugurate a 'Labour decade' where wealth creation co-exists with greater equality of opportunity. But how far can Muscat avoid any painful decisions which may break up his nascent hegemonic block, JAMES DEBONO asks?