Malta Elections: My Vote Goes to...

Of course I don't have a vote, not being a Maltese citizen.  But let's look at the options just the same...

In the Blue corner we have the incumbent Nationalist Party (PN or Partit Nazzjonalista if you prefer), and in the Red corner it's Labour (PL - Partit Laburista).  So which way to vote - red or blue?

I went to their respective websites, and here's what they promise:






Nationalist:
- More work for all
- More investment in healthcare
- Less taxation
- Free education for everybody (plus tablets for kids)
- Civil liberties for everyone



Now clearly from reading the above, this sounds like the Best Political Party in the History of the World!  Which is why it is pretty difficult to believe, especially since they've been running the country for the last number of years so have had plenty of time to do all of these things already.  'More work and less tax' - Come on! that's the kind of thing I would say if I started a political party tomorrow.  And I definitely wouldn't follow through on it.

Logo:  Old world, hint of The Establishment, nod to the British crown.

Labour:
- Cut utility bills
- Additional aid for disabled people
- Guarantee to all young people that they will be training/working/studying after the age of 16
- Tablets for kids





These promises seem to be a little more specific and thus easier to actually implement.  Except for that 'guarantee', which looks highly optimistic to me.  How exactly is that supposed to work?  I like the idea of cutting utility bills though, as they are pretty expensive.

Logo:  Trendily vague, probably resulting from many hours of focus group testing.


So who (hypothetically speaking) am I voting for?

Simple -  neither.

Instead, my imaginary vote goes to Alternattiva Demokrativa - the Green Party.

- Protection of the environment
- Decriminalisation of drug use
- Separation of church and state
- Independent media
- Promotion of Maltese language and heritage





Logo:  Green.

As with any Green Party in any country, people generally kind of like the idealism but worry that they will make a shambles of the economy if they get into power.  AD will most definitely not get into power, so this should not be a major concern.  But it's probably a good thing for a democracy to have a third voice, an alternative to the polarised views of the major players.  I don't agree with all of their policies, but for what it's worth my X goes beside Alternattiva Demokrativa in the hypothetical ballot box.



Have now managed to alienate 99% of the Maltese population of voting age.  Was this post a good idea?  Listen - it's not my country and Maltese people should vote for whomever they believe will do the best job for their nation and for them.  This probably won't happen though, as most people here tend to vote according to the preferences of their great-grandfathers and are reluctant to change allegiance no matter what the current crop of politicians are up to.  However, I don't pretend to know the intricacies of the political landscape here and so this is an outsiders view and opinion -  I am most definitely not trying to influences anybodys vote one way or the other.  And as a wiser man than me once said:
"Opinions are like a**holes - everybody's got one".