Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/832638
15 maltatoday MONDAY, 5 JUNE 2017 Editorial The lessons to be learnt MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 • Fax: (356) 21 385075 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt Yesterday's electoral victory for Joseph Muscat is indicative of the mood in the country. It also proves that beyond any doubt the campaign by the Partit Nazzjonalista ut- terly backfired. The allegations made, however serious did not hold ground and to an extent ricocheted back to the PN in a dangerous way. As one good analyst stated, it may not have been the song but the singer. The singer being Simon Busuttil and he was simply not trusted by the electorate. The PN campaign was not only lack lustre, but Busuttil could not match the EQ of Joseph Muscat or his impres- sive delivery. The high moral ground that he presented did not ring a bell with the electorate in a climate of economic prosper- ity. Prosperity that many people could feel and trans- late. The disregard for corruption is so typical of Maltese elec- tion campaigns which seek alternative governments with strong leadership not negative campaigns. There were also some serious questions about the Egrant allegations that were seri- ously flawed and backed with dubious facts interwined with perception and fiction. Nonetheless Simon Busuttil took it upon himself to base his whole campaign on these allegations. In the meantime other allegations (perhaps more founded) raised serious concerns about the extent of Keith Schembri's business interests. But they did not seem to attract the electorate's attention other than that of the media and blogposts. Indeed the media (The Sun- day Times and The Independ- ent) has some egg on its face and perhaps seriously in need of a reality check. The media in general was conditioned not to ask questions, and not to be inquisitive. Taking for granted the allegations being made without asking serious questions and queries. The Prime Minister Joseph Muscat can easily do the unthinkable, that is show absolute disregard to the media that have nudged him and incessantly questioned his integrity without basing itself on facts. He has to show humility and avoid showing outright con- tempt towards journalists. On the other hand the Nationalist party has a much more demanding job ahead of it. It has first and foremost to seek a new leader to replace Simon Busuttil, and the same applies to deputy leaders Mario DeMarco and Beppe Fenech Adami. There is need of new driving force. They have failed and the new leadership should be dynamic and somehow able to take on Muscat's whirlwind drive. Someone to inspire faith and hope for those who hope for an alternative government when the time comes. This country needs a strong opposition to counter an administration that has had an unprecedented second landslide. To Muscat that has promised to leave politics after the next five years. To a party in government that has a worrying approach to the construction industry and open arm policy to any kind of business. And more importantly irrespective of Busuttil's failure to transmit the message and inspire faith, in grave deficit when it comes to governance issues. In this scenario the role and credibility of MaltaToday is better placed than its com- petitors to serve as a forceful media motor in a political landscape where we have a lame opposition. It is now up to us to fulfill this void and to ensure that we keep the debate alive and the spirit of investigative journal- ism alive.