The new Lidl branch threw open its doors in Xewkija this weekend. The Gozitans turned up en masse – particularly after the “leak” that the first 100 customers would be able to buy a 399€ TV at the discounted price of 100€. I heard reports of traffic jams as well as unconfirmed reports of people sleeping outside the store in order to get in first on opening day. We are no longer surprised by this kind of news – Lidl knows what tickles the fancy of the Maltese public (and not just them – it’s popular across Europe) and serves it on a fake silver plate. One thing that Lidl does well is deliver. It’s not just a load of promise. It puts its money where its mouth is and gives you the bargain you go looking for.
The new generation of politicians who are currently riding the wave of discontent at the politics of austerity try their hardest to be the Lidl of the situation. They promise heaven on earth and exploit the fact that for a moment all the turkeys actually believe that Christmas can be banned. For ever. Having shed any semblance of values and principles, the key is to sell everything to everyone – at least the promise. Most of their problems begin to build up when everybody tries to cash his cheque at the same time. That is when deals with the devil end up being made – somebody somewhere must underwrite the impossible promises. And who cares if that somewhere turns out to be shaky Libyan governments, friendships with Ukrainian demi-despots on the cusp of dethronement and an opaque Chinese entity?
Italy’s young star is fading faster than Malta’s turk – mainly because the mass of critical elements in Italy work at a faster rate at exposing inconsistencies. Italy might have its share of apologists but the scam of the age of Berlusconi will not be brought up in order to justify in some way the farce that is Renzi’s new way. Malta, on the other hand, is still lost between the ridiculous statements about PN closet skeletons (tu quoque, so you have lost your right to ever speak, ever) and the ongoing finger pointing at the shamed clan who dared vote Labour for change (where are you now? No longer strutting your Taghna Lkoll Vote eh?). Everybody is guilty of something if you believe the columnists and that seems to mean that Muscat’s fairy-tale ride into the Paese dei Balocchi . Yes, Muscat gets a free ride with his Bowel Movement – free of the chains of criticism, free of any form of real form of institutional accountability.
How fitting then that Renzi and Muscat, the young dreamers of Europe, can both find a link to a Disney-an utopia. Watch Marco Travaglio do just that with Renzi here.
