“The murder of blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia triggered off a difficult moment for Malta, but it should not be allowed to derail the country’s long-term plans, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today.”
Muscat was speaking in a pre-recorded message to the audience of the EY annual conference in Malta. It had to be a video tape because Muscat was busily back to business-as-usual peddling passports in Dubai (he actually stopped for a meeting with an Oil Magnate from the Emirates before that, he’s not one to miss this kind of beat). There would be more Newspeak from Muscat in Dubai where the Henley & Partners contracted speaker would tell an audience of potential buyers that the cash-for-passports scheme was not there simply for Malta to make money. He went further… “Malta’s cash-for-passports scheme was not about making a quick buck and the country’s economy is not dependent on it”. A surplus of newspeak for the day.
Back to his earlier taped speech though. We “should not be allowed” to derail the country’s long term plans. He told the audience. Look into his eyes, look into his eyes – you are hurt but don’t let this stick for too long. Get back on the script. Everything is fine and dandy. The economy is booming. It is not thanks to Malta’s increasing dependence on shady deals. You’ve got it good. Do you want to ruin it all? Rule of law? Of course we have institutions. We have a police commissioner and an attorney general too. Joseph Muscat trusts them and while he hears your complaints he begs to differ. (Sorry, I said begs, I mean haughtily dismisses).
It is all too easy to speak of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. It is crucial though that we get to focus. This is the defining moment of civil society. It cannot rely on either of the traditional parties. It must build its own momentum and take the battle to the front on its own steam. The most important element is constant education, constant information, and constant refreshing of memory. The machines are in motion to convince you that this is business as usual. The hideous strategy of targeting critics as being non-patriots cannot be allowed to work.
Civil society must learn to look in the mirror and recognise itself free from all the shackles of partisan interpretation. The key for identification is simple. Civil society criticises and advocates for change for the good of the country. Anyone working for the good of anything else – particularly for the revival or strengthening of one or other of the PLPN hegemony is not part of this new battle.
Here is a message to Joseph Muscat. Civil society is not out to derail the country’s long term plans. Civil society is here to set the country back on track in spite of the existence of both parties. The movement will grow. It is inevitable. Constitutional reform must and will come from the ultimate sovereign: the people. We will not let you fake that one too.
We’re here to stay. We’re here for the long haul.
