Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/820803
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 MAY 2017 News 13 than Busuttil. The pitfall of this is that many voters are asking: will a National- ist government led by Busuttil be more competent than Muscat in delivering economic growth and prosperity for all? Muscat's posi- tive achievements in childcare, low unemployment and general pros- perity militate against a change of government. But increasing concern on in- equality, rising property prices, environmental issues, traffic and transparency may be creating dis- content among strategic niches of voters. Echoes of 1996? But while Muscat is clearly a bet- ter communicator than Busuttil, this does not necessarily result in an electoral victory, especially if Muscat comes across as bullish (as he was on Monday when address- ing the Labour crowd in front of Castille) and over confident. Electoral experience shows that unpretentious Alfred Sant was still able to beat Eddie Fenech Adami's Nationalist Party in 1996 despite being widely perceived as an un- charismatic leader. The paral- lels with 1996 are in fact many: a strong buoyant economy, an elec- tion called months before it was due, an aggressive slick and futur- istic campaign by the party in gov- ernment and a poorer opposition which pitted itself against business barons. The only major difference is that while the PN started from a 13,000 vote margin, this time round Mus- cat starts from a 35,000 vote mar- gin, which means that the swing has to be more substantial. Moreo- ver while the PN was serving a sec- ond term, Muscat is still serving his first term. The magisterial incognita The problem for both campaigns is that both may be easily derailed from any developments on the Panama front. For example any proof about the PM's involvement in Egrant may be devastating for Labour. Moreover, if the inquiring mag- istrate concludes his work before the election, this may either derail the PN's campaign if Muscat is ab- solved or derail Labour's campaign if the accusations are proved. The start of a new investigation with regard to alleged kickbacks received by the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff casts another dark shadow on the campaign. For while this investigation may not be completed before the election, if the accusations are proven, the PM's position may be untenable even if he is re-elected to power. The publication of documents which according to blogger Caru- ana Galizia have been scanned and uploaded in a cloud, may also have devastating consequences for La- bour. The lure of populism One big risk for the country is that with the stakes being so high, both parties may end up making unsustainable and populist pro- posals which would ultimately undermine economic well being. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna seems to have let go of his grasp on Labour's fiscal gear as his leader keeps promising more tax cuts, while the PN has responded by a €10,000 incentive package for cou- ples who decide to stay or return to Gozo. While this may be addressing demographic realities of an age- ing island, it also smacks of dishing out money on a strategic cohort of voters. Moreover the PN contin- ues to undermine its environmen- tal credentials by pushing for a tunnel connecting Malta and Go- zo. Busuttil has so far not clarified whether the tunnel would only cater for public transport or for private cars, a significant choice considering the traffic impact of such a tunnel. Choice of districts The choice of districts which will be contested by the party leaders is also highly symbolic. By contesting Dom Mintoff's second district the PM may be bent on galvanising the core vote while by contesting the fifth he may be underlining the strate- gic importance of south-western Malta, whose switchers may be a different kettle of fish than those in northern Malta who may be more concerned on quality of life issues. These voters may be a key to Labour retaining power. Mus- cat's decision to contest the fifth district may also indicate some discomfort about Marlene Far- rugia's candidature. On the other hand Busuttil is clearly targeting the 12th district, a northern dis- trict which includes St Paul's Bay, a multicultural locality which also includes a large number of sepa- rated people who were irked by the party's anti divorce stance in 2012. In this district the PN had experienced major losses in the last general election but the party may have started recovering by becoming more liberal and open. The small fry in a big election In all this Alternattiva Demokra- tika, the Green Party, which has always consistently campaigned for good governance and environ- mental issues, will find itself mak- ing a hard sell to potential voters who may perceive this election as a referendum on Muscat. This perception is further solidified by AD's own willingness to join a coalition with the PN if the lat- ter were willing to agree with a shared name. Green voters, especially in PN leaning districts, may already have taken the hint and feel ab- solved from their duty to vote AD, especially in view of declara- tions by AD's former chairperson, Michael Briguglio, supporting the 'national force'. AD's last hope lies in voters who still have an axe to grind with the PN's bad governance record be- fore 2013 but are equally appalled by Muscat's record in office, who may find a parking space in the green party. On the other hand Marlene Far- rugia's party may become an at- tractive option for pale blue vot- ers or switchers already bent on turning back, who would prefer to vote for another party but fear the prospect of Muscat winning the election. In this sense the PD has resolved the wasted vote problem at the cost of being perceived as an appendage of the PN. The question is whether the PD will get any votes from the other side or whether it will simply eat from within the PN's pie. This may change if Godfrey Farrugia, who resigned from Labour whip and announced his decision not to stand for Labour, decides to contest with the PD. For Godfrey Farrugia may be the missing link in the PN's path to power, a credible role model for Labour voters still contemplating on whether to cross the Rubicon. The ideas and interest put forward must demonstrate the ability to generate both innovate activity as well as the generation of new economic activity. In order to achieve this objective, the Government of Malta through Projects Malta Ltd (PML) has published an Expression of Interest for regeneration ideas of space at Menqa, Marsa for the purpose of generating new economic activity within the harbour. The Relevant Expression of Interest document may be downloaded free of charge from Projects Malta's website (http://projectsmalta.com/tenders). The closing date for the submissions is Friday, 7 th July, 2017 at noon (CET). Submissions are to be delivered by hand to Projects Malta Ltd on weekdays between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. (CET) at the address below: Projects Malta Ltd The Clock Tower, Level 1 Tign• Point Sliema TP01 Enquiries or requests for clarifications relative to this EOI shall be submitted by email to PML on (admin.projectsmalta@gov.mt) under the title 'Expression of Interest for the allocation of space at Menqa, Marsa for the purpose of generating new economic activity within the harbour'. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Such queries or requests for clarifications shall be received by not later than Friday, 26 th May, 2017 at noon (CET). Expression of Interest The Government of Malta through Projects Malta Ltd (PML) aims to gather ideas and information on ways to generate new economic activity within the harbour, both land and sea. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Output file.pdf 1 04/05/2017 19:31:50 Simon Busuttil is contesting the 12th district, where the PN saw big losses in 2013