Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/820803
26 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 MAY 2017 Opinion W hat a week it has been. I think it is safe to say that Joseph Muscat caught everyone by surprise during the 1 May mass meeting when he announced a snap election. There had been a few hints that it would be called for 17 June, but I doubt that anyone except for the inner circle could have possibly foreseen he would anticipate that date by two full weeks and go for the shortest possible timeframe. I have often noticed that Muscat likes to spring these sorts of surprises and do the unexpected in order to pull the rug from under the feet of his political adversaries. Undoubtedly, calling an election before its time brings with it an almost surreal, weird atmosphere: we went from trying to guess the date (mid-June? November? March?) into full election mode in one fell swoop. I think it took a couple of days for most people to realise what was happening and it took the Opposition some time to decide how to play this. On the one hand, there had been loud clamours for an election to be called because "Muscat's position is untenable", and then magically, here it was and many were downright ecstatic that the party had been given a real possibility of ousting Muscat sooner rather than later. But, just as quickly, I was reading the opposite reaction: no, the election should not have been called now, Muscat should have stepped down as PM until the inquiry was concluded and let someone else take over the leadership, and the election should have been held after the full five years' term. But something tells me that if that had happened, the Labour administration would still have been accused of trying to cling on to power at all costs. Inevitably, it wasn't long before we got the first attempt at spin: I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw PN exponents crowing that "the government has collapsed " (waqa' l-gvern). There are a lot of things that can be said about the reasons for this snap election, but describing it as a collapse in government is certainly not correct. There were also comparisons with the short-lived Sant administration of 1996-1998. But, going to the polls early to seek a new mandate can by no stretch of the imagination be compared to what happened to Alfred Sant, who lost his one-seat majority when his own MP, former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff voted against the government on a money Bill, which Sant himself had tied to a vote of confidence, making it impossible for him to govern. The Labour party was split into two factions as the two men lashed out at each other and the PN rubbed its hands in anticipation, waiting for the inevitable to happen. There are also statements being repeated ad nauseam that the election is one year ahead of time: now call me pedantic but from June to next March is only nine months not a year. It may be a trivial point, but I don't like it when facts are twisted to score some silly political point. Of course, it is obvious that Muscat is fighting for his political survival and the polls showing that his impressive 36,000 vote lead has shrunk dramatically probably cost him quite a few sleepless nights. I doubt he even needs to be on his much-publicised diet any more with the kind of pressure he is under. In politics, perception is everything, and when people start turning their backs on your party it is quite a gamble to keep hanging on and take the risk of the gap between the parties becoming even smaller. There have been a mountain of allegations thrown against him and those closest to him, and while the inquiry has not been concluded, the suspicions that he is implicated persist, especially as he did not do what he should have done a year ago. Perhaps the only aspect about this snap election that everyone likes is that this campaign is mercifully short. In fact I propose a change to our electoral law that all campaigns should last exactly 33 days. If possible, I would even chop off those additional three days and make it a nice, round number: 30. Do we really need any more time than that to find out just how many goodies and manna from heaven both sides are suddenly promising us? I like this kind of sharp, just get to the point efficiency of a short campaign. It cuts through all the wastage of unnecessary political f lyers no one ever reads, saves a lot of trees in the process, and delivers us from needless hot air as TV stations strive to keep people interested with discussions and debates when everyone is already glassy-eyed from election ennui. If it were up to me I would The campaign so far Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Part financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas Date: 7 th April 2017 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2014-2020 Pre-Notification of Measure 3.1 under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for Malta 2014-2020 The Director General Funds and Programmes Division, within the Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, would like to announce that it shall be launching a call for applications for grants under sub-measure 3.1, 'Support for new participation in quality schemes' under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 for Malta. Sub-measure 3.1 provides support for farmers and groups of farmers to join quality schemes which serve as a guarantee of product quality standards and marks. The sub-measure will provide support for new participation in Malta's 'Products of Quality' National Scheme as well as in the established EU quality schemes, such as organic farming. Support shall be granted to cover cost of certification and annual contribution required under the respective quality schemes for a duration of 5 years. The Managing Authority will be organizing an information session on Wednesday 17 th May at 2PM.Those interested in participating are requested to register their interest by contacting the Managing Authority on 2200 1108 or rdd.meaim@gov.mt The actual launch of the call will be Monday 26 th June 2017. Guidelines and application form will be published on the Managing Authority's webpage www.eufunds.gov.mt. Josanne Cassar When people start turning their backs on your party it is quite a gamble to keep hanging on and take the risk of the gap between the parties becoming even smaller