Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/689748
9 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE 2016 Editorial A vision of one's own MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN ACTING EDITOR: JURGEN BALZAN Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 • Fax: (356) 21 385075 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt The creation of the Partit Demokratiku is a welcome addi- tion to a political scene that has grown stale and is in need of a breath of fresh air. Part of the problem concerns the simple fact that Malta has been dominated by the two major parties for far too long. When critics refer to the current stalemate in terms of 'PL-PN', they refer to more than just collusion between the two parties. Lurking beneath the surface is also a state of mind that perceives things only in terms of ' blue' and 'red '. The two parties themselves may have no difficulties operat- ing through that prism: but it is now undeniable that a grow- ing section of the population is tired – with just cause – of the Labour-PN duopoly. The need for credible alternatives to both is palpable; this is partly the inevitable consequence of a changing society, and also of the fact that the two parties offer little in the way of genuine distinction in their own ap- proach to politics. It is painstakingly clear that the red-blue dynamic is not working, and as such the inclusion of the colour orange (alongside green, which has existed for years) can be seen as a response to a growing desire for genuine political change. It remains to be seen, though, whether a new colour alone will address the root cause of the problem. The Partit Demokra- tiku's leadership includes MP Marlene Farrugia and a few prominent people in civil soci- ety. Certainly, it enters the lists with a relatively high-powered and energetic team. However, we do not know much else about the new party. The colour itself tells us lit- tle: orange has been used by a variety of parties of different hues and creeds, from Chris- tian Democrats to Liberals, the Ukrainian revolution in 2004 and the Pirate Party in Ger- many. It is as yet unclear what sort of ideology and vision the new party will subscribe to. Farru- gia has gone on record saying that the Partit Demokratiku will be a centre-left party. But the party's political platform remains unknown, as the party's structures are still at an embryonic stage. Ideological differences be- tween the two major parties are at best illusionary, with the two parties constantly striv- ing – mostly through their own media – to turn the political battle into a Presidential one. This suits the purposes of two parties that no longer identif y themselves with any clear ideo- logical beliefs at all. It sits less easily with a party that repre- sents a challenge to the same duopoly. Another problem is that a similar approach has been tried before. The Green Party has valiantly survived a lopsided playing field, and the continu- ous onslaught by the PN and Labour, for almost 30 years. But nowadays the party lacks a clear vision and is in need of a thor- ough make over and genera- tional change in its leadership direction. Even at its freshest and most crisp, however, AD failed to ever register more than 2% of the national vote. Other non-mainstream parties and individual candidates have fared even worse. It is now clear that the elec- torate, or at least a part of it, is no longer happy voting for hotchpotch parties or rainbow coalitions which attempt to be everything for everyone. Such a minority yearns for politics and parties with strong affirmative identities based on fundamental values, and with the necessary infrastructure in place to de- liver the promised change. The Orange Party will have to take this message on board if it is to succeed where others have failed. Much hangs in the bal- ance, too. Whatever one makes of the new party, it is true that we need to evolve beyond a winner-takes-all mentality, to a truly pluralistic political situation in which parties are inclusive and open to building alliances, with the aim of bring- ing about real reform. Ultimately, a successful 'third' party must be more than an alternative to the two-party system by mimicking the PN and Labour. It must also have a vision of its own. A brief look beyond our shores shows that there are two com- parable political phenomena happening at the same time. The rise of the far-right, and the growing appeal of grassroots leftist politics, best represented by Bernie Sanders in the USA and Jeremy Corbyn in the UK. The new party should adopt clear policies on issues such as tax evasion, the environment, the minimum wage, the welfare system, pensions, immigration, good governance, civil rights, party financing, broadcasting, etc., and explain what kind of economy they want for the country. Voters can never fully agree with a party's political platform, but they deserve to know where a party stands. Vagueness and opportunism are after all what led us to where we are today. Ideological boundaries can be restrictive if they underline sec- tarian identity; but they could also be empowering if rooted in the wider aspirations of the progressive and radical part of civil society. The key challenge is how (and if ) parties with similar goals can work together through democratic means, and how these can oppose a system which for too long has sacri- ficed social and environmental justice on the altar of profit and power.