PLPN are at the crossroads

Our press statement following the results of the 2024 European Parliament elections. Ara l-verżjoni bil-Malti iżjed ‘l isfel

The results of the European Parliament elections in Malta have given a clear verdict: a large part of the electorate doesn’t feel that Labour’s policies are working for the people, and the detachment between political power and everyday life is reflected in the way in which the party has lost most of its support.

Since the last election, the Government’s policy has been to distribute public resources – including land, the coast, and taxpayers’ money – to lobbies and individuals with private interests.

The effects of this, including the loss of open spaces, the constant threat of construction and the lack of law enforcement in every sphere of public life, are being borne directly by the communities in our towns, particularly in Labour constituencies who have, last Saturday, sent a clear message of fatigue and disappointment.

This puts the government, but also the Opposition, at crossroads.

The differences in economic policy between the two major parties are negligible, and as long as these will remain servile to the interests of big business, particularly the construction lobby, the public’s disenchantment with these two monoliths will continue to increase.

In short, PLPN have to make a choice between serving its electors and serving lobbies.

In this election we have also seen a lack of discussion and proposals related to the European Union, particularly poverty and social exclusion, which ranked second in last spring’s Eurobarometer survey on the priorities of the Maltese electorate. This confirms how Maltese politics ignore the realities of its own population, in a country where, despite the “economic miracle”, around 16% of the population is at risk of poverty.

Other important realities have also been sidelined: these include the price of food and the importers’ monopoly, the sustainability of energy subsidies, as well as the state of rights in Malta - including those of minorities and workers brought to Malta in conditions of slavery, without dignity or rights.

Meanwhile, Prof Arnold Cassola emerges as the moral victor of this election. His first count and campaign are proof of the need for a credible force that can challenge the political duopoly with concrete proposals and clear policies.

Il-Kollettiv believes the electorate has had enough of the mediocrity that has been allowed to fester on our parliamentary benches throughout the last years, and is looking for trustworthy people to govern it. It is high time for an electoral reform that respects the wishes of those who do not want to be part of the political duopoly, which is suffocating public quality of life, and also the opportunity for change.

In light of yesterday’s results, il-Kollettiv reiterates its commitment towards the residents and communities of Malta and Gozo. Il-Kollettiv’s aim is to offer a new political choice for the next general elections, with a vision based on the principles and values of equality, the preservation and creation of public wellbeing, and social justice.

PLPN f’salib it-toroq

Ir-riżultat tal-elezzjonijiet għall-Parlament Ewropew huwa verdett ċar: l-elettorat fil-parti l-kbira tiegħu ma jħossx li l-politiki tal-Gvern Laburista qegħdin jaħdmu għall-poplu, u d-distakk bejn il-poter politiku u l-ħajja ta’ kuljum ġie rifless fil-mod kif il-partit tilef l-appoġġ li kien igawdi minn bosta bnadi.

Mill-aħħar elezzjoni ġenerali ‘l hawn, il-politika tal-Gvern kienet waħda ta’ tqassim tar-riżorsi tal-poplu – fosthom l-art, il-kosta, u l-fondi tal-kontribwenti – lil-lobbies u individwi b’interessi privati.

L-effetti ta’ dan – fosthom it-telfien tal-ispazji pubbliċi, it-theddida kostanti tal-kostruzzjoni, u n-nuqqas ta’ infurzar tal-liġijiet fl-oqsma kollha tal-ħajja pubblika – jinħassu direttament mill-komunitajiet fl-irħula ta’ pajjiżna, b’mod speċjali mill-kostitwenzi Laburisti li nhar is-Sibt taw messaġġ ċar ta’ għajja u diżappunt.

Dan ipoġġi mhux biss lill-Gvern iżda anke lill-Oppożizzjoni f’salib it-toroq.

Id-differenzi bejn il-politika ekonomika taż-żewġ partiti l-kbar huma tassew negliġibbli; dment li l-partiti se jibqgħu servili għan-negozjanti l-kbar, b’mod speċjali għal-lobby tal-kostruzzjoni, l-isfiduċja tal-poplu f’dawn iż-żewġ blokok kbar se tibqa’ tiżdied.

Fi ftit kliem, PLPN issa jridu jagħmlu għażla bejn il-poplu u l-lobbies.

F’din l-elezzjoni stajna ninnutaw in-nuqqas ta’ argumenti u proposti li huma tassew marbuta mal-Unjoni Ewropea, u b’mod speċjali ħadd ma tkellem dwar il-faqar u l-esklużjoni soċjali, li huma fit-tieni post tal-prijoritajiet tal-elettorat skont stħarriġ tal-Eurobarometer li sar fir-rebbiegħa. Dan jindika kemm il-politika Maltija tibqa’ tinjora r-realtajiet ta’ niesha stess, f’pajjiż fejn, minkejja l-“miraklu” ekonomiku, madwar 16% tal-popolazzjoni tinsab fir-riskju tal-faqar.

Bl-istess mod, ma ġewx diskussi realtajiet importanti fosthom l-għoli tal-ikel u l-monopolju tal-importaturi, is-sostenibbiltà tas-sussidji fuq l-enerġija, kif ukoll l-istat tad-drittijiet f’Malta, fosthom dawk tal-minoranzi kif ukoll tal-ħaddiema li qed jiġu importati f’kundizzjonijiet ta’ skjavitù, mingħajr dinjità u drittijiet.

Sadanittant, il-Prof Arnold Cassola joħroġ bħala r-rebbieħ morali ta’ din l-elezzjoni. Il-voti li ġab fl-ewwel rawnd, iżda anke l-kampanja tiegħu, jixhdu l-ħtieġa għal leħen kredibbli li jista’ jisfida d-duwopolju politiku bi proposti konkreti u politiki ċari.

Nemmnu li l-elettorat huwa mdejjaq bil-medjokrità li trabbiet fuq il-bankijiet parlamentari tul dawn l-aħħar snin, u li jrid nies ta’ fiduċja sabiex jiggvernawh. Wasal iż-żmien li ssir riforma elettorali li tirrispetta x-xewqat elettorali ta’ poplu li jrid jinħeles minn duwopolju suffokanti, li qed jifga l-kwalità tal-ħajja tal-poplu u anke l-opportunitajiet tiegħu għall-bidla.

Fid-dawl tar-riżultati tal-bieraħ, il-Kollettiv itenni l-impenn tiegħu lejn ir-residenti u l-komunitajiet ta’ pajjiżna. L-għan tagħna huwa li noffru għażla politika ġdida għall-elezzjonijiet ġenerali li jmiss, b’viżjoni msejsa fuq il-prinċipji u l-valuri tal-ugwaljanza, tal-preżervazzjoni u l-ħolqien tal-ġid komuni, u tal-ġustizzja soċjali.