Alea Iacta Est

The die is cast. We now have an election date and fate (coincidence?) has it that the election date is less than a week away from the Ides of March (15th). This was no collective conspiracy to backstab the leader though. In a way the stage had long been set, the tickets for the performance had long sold out and on the day you half expected the leader to bare his chest in readiness for the plunging daggers. This was not the downfall of a government but the collective suicide orchestrated in such a manner as to obtain the maximum dramatic effect.

Lawrence Gonzi’s party chose the time, date and manner when to call it a day on the government. There is no doubt about that. The choice was strategic and the dramatic effect was stupendous. Do not forget for one minute that this is not a boxing match that can be won on points. This was an all out battle that has dragged on for years now. Franco’s rebel activity was a catalyst that mixed with the spice (or opiate) of the inevitable negative vibes that the Labour party has consistently chosen to shower. When the bills are added up though this is the legislature that has lasted for the longest time since KMB bled his own legislature’s life to the last available hour. Franco did not pull the plug – Lawrence saw to it that the people knew that come what may, tonight we would have an election . HE CALLED TIME.

We had the budget and the plan, and for extra dramatic effect we had the new member of the PN leadership team. We did have the panicked signs of the various “soft openings” of projects that have been long in the waiting but the trick was in the economic plan. Gonzi saw Muscat’s weakness. There was no way that Muscat’s team could come up with any deliverable that was as effective as a strong economic base. Forcing Franco to vote on the day when his vote was most needed was important. Franco would have to carry that responsibility on his shoulder. Ditto Muscat. Muscat of the contradictions – a budget to keep but to vote against.

Now the audience would have to watch. It would have been made to sniff the promise. It would have been shown the goods, the presents below the Christmas tree (not just short term promises but a plan for the economy) and then it would be told that the big bad guys have come and taken them away. Those whose votes are still not decided (that 29% in the polls) would then be made to watch the carcades and celebrations of the Labour supporters who are itching to get their turn in the driving seat – come what may, because 25 years have hurt and because yes, the economy may be good, but we don’t like the arrogant clique.

That was the point of the melodrama. The budget and the budget speeches built up the hero and his image. Yes, Gonzi said, “ha naghmilha tal-bravu” and he sung the praises of his own successes. Then he bared his chest and let his detractors shoot him down. Muscat was to be pictured as the power-hungry wannabe keen on becoming the youngest prime minister. The carcading reds would be a sign of things to come.

Already a quick look at the TV stations begin to give out these signs. ONE TV’s Cini/Musumeci are already divvying up the PBS pie with the resurfaced Grimas. A very biased PBS is digging into Cassola’s AD – lest anybody even consider the small parties. And NET… well what do you expect?

The die has been cast. We now have the farcical reflection period before the campaign. A period during which the people will be made to imagine a labour government. Then we will kick off what promises to be the ugliest campaign for a long time. Labour has to roll up its sleeves and start unravelling its plans.  The nationalist party will be dispatching its proselytising team to the grocers of the nation.

I don’t know whether to be glad or sad that my flight out of the country is planned for the 7th January. Coincidence? Fate?