Monti to the Full

Ex-EU Commissioner Mario Monti launched a proposal last week to recreate a solid centre government, free of any bi-partisan conflict, with the aim of re-vitalising the ailing Italian economy. This idea was launched on Italian daily La Stampa following Monti’s observation of the current state of the Italian economy and deliberations on the inability of either side of the bi-partisan settlement to tackle the serious problems Italy is faced with.

Monti’s comments may very well be applied to Malta. With our GDP currently standing at 0.1% and exports down 14% in the first quarter of 2005, the Maltese bi-partisan political spectrum is still proving itself incapable to come up with any concrete proposal that will help Malta solve its problems. This is why the need for a moderate party operating in a ‘Grande Centro’ (Grand Centre) in Malta is greatly felt.

Instead of delivering results to the Maltese electorate, the present system is proving capable at delivering only useless bickering that is wasting Malta precious resources. These could instead be spent on making Malta a success story in the Mediterranean region. The current state of affairs is chaining Malta to a ‘status quo’ situation where new ideas are simply ruled out. This state of affairs cannot continue as it is embarrassing our nation on the international scene with foreign diplomats believing that Malta is only good at complaining and criticising and not proposing.

This is why there needs to be a new centre party, free of any useless conflict, committed only towards Malta. There needs to be a new centre party capable of proposing and achieving national unity and progress for all. There needs to be a new pro-active party full with positive answers to Malta’s problem.

There should be a new centre party because the people feel disgruntled and lost in their own society, as relatively low participation rates in local elections show. This is why this new centre party shall be an effort coming from the people, directed towards the people, implemented together with the people.

This is why I agree with Monti to the full as the bi-partisan system in Malta has proven to be of great damage to society unless some major structural changes are carried into both major political parties.