. / • ~1i interview ~ with godfrey baldacchino

INDEPENDENT-MINDED, OUTSPOKEN AND ELOQUENT GODFREY BALDACHINO IS ONE OF MALTA'S INTELLECTUALS. HERE HE TALKS TO JULIAN MANDUCA WE ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION

Should Malta join the EU, or should we stay out? Wrong question! Should we vote for Labour or should we vote Nationalist? Wrong question! Godfrey Baldacchino is a lecturer at the university, but he is not one to relax in the ivory towers. His commitment to pushing forward the cause of workers, encouraging workers participation and improving their education has been admirable. Whilst Baldacchino is certainly a busy man, it does not mean he does not have the time for careful refl ection. I walked into Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino's office looking for answers, but came out with one big question. Whether we join the EU or not; have a Labour or a Nationali st government; will we get rid of the uncer­ tainty that plagues us? Dr. Baldacchino has a point. And it is an important one. Whatever happens in the next few months may not be an acceptable direction for Malta, if the two large political parties stick to their positions

countdown 05 The 90s have often been labelled the partnership direction that is agreeable to on the whole, done tremendously well decade of uncertainty, but in Malta we the NP, or membership under conditions since independence. Our real gross seem intent on stretching that out. that would be agreeable to the MLP." domestic product has increased five fold If the Labour Party wins the elections, If we are to follow Baldacchino's since 1964. We have had no dictatorships will we then have five years out of the EU thoughts to their natural conclusion or real threats of military rule, even and a NP in Opposition ready to re-apply there is only one way that Malta can though democracy was seriously threat­ once it is re-elected? (If you think that is move ahead in an acceptable direction: ened in the early 1980s. out of the question, Norway has already the leadership of the Malta Labour Party "The alternation of political parties in been on the verge of EU accession twice - and the Nationalist Party should shut government is a healthy sign, but the in 1972 & 1992 - and may soon be trying themselves in a room and not come out main handicap is that Malta has found for a third time). until they have reached a common posi­ itself unable to have continuity across Contrarily, if we vote to join the EU and tion on our country's development tra­ governments. the Nationalists are elected, will Labour jectory - whatever that may be - that "In the short period Labour was in gov­ stick to its guns and keep us living with would be acceptable to both. Then Malta ernment from 1996 to 1998 there were at the promise of taking Malta out of the EU can, and will , move forward. least two sets of plans that should have club when next elected? After all, the "Spectacularly," Baldacchino says. had a major impact on this country. The alternation of our two political parties in Of course shutting themselves in a regional development plan for the south, power is unavoidable. What is in doubt is room may not be the way to do it - but and the 'Value 2000' document, prepared not if, but when. the ai~ should be to start to move in by the Forum for a Better Economy. That kind of uncertainty in our national directions that will bring both parties to Where are these now?" public policy is our undoing. agree on what status Malta should have. The problem is that Malta is a 'stop and Come June or even earlier, when both If you think that is impossible think start' democracy and we cannot afford to referendum and elections are decided, again. Politics "is all about making the continue like that. Baldacchino's big con­ will Malta have a direction or will it still impossible come true. Just look at how cern about the upcoming referendum and be like a ship carousing dangerously near the MLP's ideological positions on eco­ elections are a case in pOint. reefs in a bad storm? nomics and democracy have now con­ Godfrey Baldacchino would not be Will Godfrey Baldacchino be happy verged with those of PN when in 1985 drawn into making any predictions on the with any outcome after the elections and they were so far apart. Or the PN's adop­ outcome of the upcoming elections and referendum? tion of 'welfarism' and its transition to a referendum. "What concerns me is the "Well, that depends on what the loser 'catch-all' party under Fenech Adami. day after scenario: what will happen fol­ does. The only really acceptable solution The biggest problem Malta has faced lowing the referendum and elections? is that both PN and MLP agree, or at least since independence is: "institutional Will Malta be in a position to decide its accept to live with either partnership, poverty" and "lack of policy continuity," future? I don't think Malta deserves this membership, or even a form of either - a Baldacchino suggests. insecurity - we deserve better. He illustrates his points: "Institutional "The Nationalist Party has been in gov­ maturity implies the ability and compe­ ernment for a long time. Many people vot­ tence of independent national structures ing for the first time have not experi­ to take a strong professional standpoint enced any other government, other than and to carry out their tasks well, earning the 22-month Labour 'hiccup'. Twenty the rightful respects of the public as well years is a long time. The average length of as of the politicians from any stripe .. a Minister's career world-wide is 3.5 years "Our institutions often do not take on - but not in Malta. Is it healthy to have their responsibilities at the right the NP in government, with the same moments and when they, or members faces in the same positions, for yet anoth­ from the institutions, do, their messages er five?" tend to be tarnished by criticism embroil­ The last surveys seem to indicate that ing them in partisan party politiCS. we will have to suffer the Nationalists in "It often happens that important state­ government a bit longer, but Baldacchino ments are made, but these are shot down is not convinced of the reliability of the by one of the large political parties - surveys. He is certainly very wary of which tries to shoot the messenger what the opinion polls suggest: rather than to critique the message - with "I am always very suspicious of surveys The probl em is that accusations of partisan sympathies. that use only 300-400 respondents and "I am thinking of, the Employment & more so of ones that don't indicate the Malta is a 'stop and Training Corporation here, the rate of non-response or the margin of Ombudsman, the Central Bank, MEPA - error of their results. start' de moc racy and even the President of the Republic has "Even the Xarabank survey leaves me been dragged onto party billboards. somewhat cold as the Labour boycott we ca nnot afford to Everything is party politicised and this may induce a 'halo effect' on respondents means our institutions have credibility and inflate the pro-EU figures." continue like that problems." Having said that, would joining the EU Turning to continuity issues: "Malta has . be a good thing? The answer, according a relatively healthy democracy. We have, to Baldacchino cannot be a simple yes or

06 countdown no: "M uch will depend on the statesman­ possible in principle - then it would of ship qualities of our leaders." course be a better option than member­ "Let us just think of EU funding. In the ship. But it is a big if! " financial package the government has "The big difference between what the negotiated much of the money is tied to NP can present us with, and Labour's projects. Our administrators will have to package is that the membership option be able to initiate and implement plans - package is known. Having said that, otherwise the opportunities that the much can change within a few years." funding provide will be lost, or under­ On party politics in general? "Maltese exploited. There is no such thing as a free politics is very male and macho. The dis­ lunch!" course is full of military terminology. It "In the long run, being in the EU I would be good to see women taking a expect us to benefit from a better quality more decisive and proactive role in pub­ of life; better roads; less pollution, better li c policy. The introduction of more deals for consumers (not necessarily on women into the public political sphere Maltese products) and freedom of move­ ment to work and study. I also have high hopes of a stronger sense of discipline and dynamism - but I may be proved The core attractive ingredient of partnership wrong! "But do not expect immediate sociolog­ is the boundless flexibility that it suggests ical change - There will be nothing dra­ matic on 1st May 2004 or thereafter­ whether and how we do change in the from norms are very unlikely." should have impacts similar to those in long term will depend much more than Fenech Adami has won four out of five other spheres, such as the University or we realise on the ability of our policy elections and has been successful at the workplace. Politics should become makers than on events or initiatives in keeping his party together - dealing with more humane." Brussels." the tensions that exists between the "I would like to see our political parties "Something that worries me is that we social Christian democratic elements deciding on a minimum of women are happy with the special arrangements that are centrist or left of centre and the throughout their hierarchy. I support the we got from the EU - we got more than conservative liberals that are more right idea of reverse discrimination." any other candidate country - but we wing. It takes some talent to balance Will the EU be good for workers? "Well don't really know whether this is good those forces over 25 years." it is perhaps not so much a matter of enough for Malta. "If Fenech Adami was involved in bro­ good or bad. Certainly there will be win­ "In certain areas - including certain kering the compromise constitutional ners and losers. financial arrangements - we did not ask amendment in 1986 that meant a party "The winners will be those that work for a derogation and other countries getting fifty per cent plus one vote would for globally competitive companies; for have these. Will we ever know whether be guaranteed a majority of seats in firms that have sought and found a par­ our Government erred on the side of cau­ Parliament; then he would have been ticular market niche; the losers will be tion?" partly responsible for saving the country those that work for compani es that oper­ And what about the quality of our lead­ from civil war - those dark years were ate in protected markets, benefit from ers? Are they village doctors and lawyers the nadir of Maltese democracy. In the subsidies or trade barriers." or statesmen that will be remembered Maltese islands, he could be remem­ Whatever happens, the coming years long after their demise? bered for that." will see a fair amount of restructuring and "Our recent history has been charac­ And what about Dr Alfred Sant? "Still down-sizing of businesses. It's been going terised by two types of diplomacy. Dom an enigmatic figure. Too early to judge. on for years, but is likely to accelerate. If Mintoff stands head and shoulders in He tried to shake the MLP into a mod­ we join the EU that could happen sooner." contrast with all the others. He tried to ernist, 'economistic' stance. His main So is it not perhaps better to wait and at oblige the world to fit to Malta's needs. defect was that he perhaps tried to do least give these companies, and workers, One could imagine him presenting us this too rapidly. Was he understood by a few more years? [ ask. with a situation where the EU would be his followers? "That rather depends on the compa­ seen as joining Malta, rather than the "B ut I am still intrigued and would like nies. One might think that waiting is bet­ other way round. This kind of diplomacy to know more about the dynamics of for­ ter, as it will save some jobs for some was successful in the short run, but ran eign relations and diplomatic eff orts with years, but in some cases it would be more out of steam." the EU during the Labour Government of advisable to start now. Otherwise it may "Then there is that spearheaded by 1996 - 1998." be too late to save the companies at all, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and What about the partnership option? eight or ten years down the road. Each others like him. The style is in part a "The core attractive ingredient of part­ case has to be examined on its own mer­ reaction to Mintoff's way. The id ea is to nership is the boundless fl exibility that it its and it rather depends on the market establish a working relationship so that suggests. the company operates in." trust is established and then to negotiate "If the MLP can negotiate an advanta- deals within that climate of trust. But geous agreement with the EU - and Julian Manduca is Consulting Editor at with this strategy dramatic departures nobody can exclude that such could be Malta Today

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