Friday, January 31, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (7)

 Il-politika diviżiva, dik ta' aħna nafu kollox u huma ma jafu xejn, ta' min jgħajjat jew jippoppa l-iktar, taf tkun spettakolari. Iżda kemm fiha sustanza? 

Nippreferi politika li tiddiskuti l-ideat u l-proposti, li tistudja u tirriċerka, li tisma' daqs kemm titkellem. Iżda din it-tip ta' politika teħtieġ investiment. 

Metodu li jista' jintuża biex noqorbu lejn din it-tip ta' politika hi li jkun hemm kumitati parlamentari li jiltaqgħu regolarment fuq kwistjonijiet varji proposti minn parlamentari u parteċipanti oħra bħal l-esperti, akkademiċi, korpi kostitwiti, partiti, soċjeta' ċivili, kunsilli lokali u ilħna oħra mis-setturi pubbliċi u privati. 

Kemm politiċi kif ukoll 'policy makers'  li m'humiex politiċi, bħal dawk imsemmija hawn fuq ikunu madwar il-mejda. Ikunu strutturati b'mod iktar olistiku minn dawk il-kumitati li hemm fil-preżent (f'numru żgħir ta' oqsma).
Sa ċertu punt dan iwessa' l-iskop ta' fora bħall-MCESD u MEUSAC b' ispirazzjoni Skandinava.
Ikun hemm riżorsi li jistgħu jintużaw għar-riċerka, inizjattivi, programmi, edukazzjoni u affarijiet oħra sabiex ikun hemm diskussjonijiet infurmati u kostruttivi għall-kunsiderazzjoni tal-Parlament. 

F'tali politika xorta jkun hemm id-differenzi u n-nuqqas ta' qbil, iżda l-komunikazzjoni u d-deliberazzjoni jingħataw priorita'. Ikun hemm spazju għal min jista' u jixtieq jikkontribwixxi fil-politika mingħajr ma jkun politiku. 

B'rieda tajba jista' jkun hemm kunsens għal din it-tip ta' politika. 




Thursday, January 30, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (6)

Sezzjoni tal-poplu hi involuta fl-attiviżmu. Min jipproponi metodu, u min jipproponi ieħor. Min irid jaħdem ma’ kull min jaqbel miegħu fuq il-kwistjoni konċernata, u min jaħdem biss ma’ dawk li jikkunsidra bħala ‘tajbin’. Min jimmilita jew għandu konnessjoni ma' partit jew politiku, min f’xi għaqda fis-soċjeta’ ċivili, min fit-tnejn (jew aktar), u min f’xejn. Min hu attiv bħala stil ta’ ħajja u min forsi iktar b’mod leġġer. Dawn huma xi eżempji ta’ x’jikkostitwixxi l-attiviżmu fil-politika u fil-movimenti soċjali, fejn jista’ jkun hemm varjeta’ ta’ impatti fuq issue jew oħra. Dan kollu huwa essenzjali f’demokrazija liberali, u allaħares ma jkunx hekk. 
F’dan il-kuntest, ikun tajjeb ukoll li nkunu ċari u reali dwar il-poter ta’ l-apparat ta’ l-istat. L-istat m’huwiex omoġenju, u kultanti iċedi għall-pressjoni esterna jew interna jew saħansitra jappoġġja talbiet mis-soċjeta’ fuq kwistjonijiet partikolari. 
Iżda l-istat huwa ċentru ta’ poter, immexxi minn partit li rebaħ l-elezzjoni. U jekk wieħed jaspira biex ikun hemm formazzjoni oħra governattiva, din tista’ ssir biss minn forza, minn koalizzjoni, li hi elettoralment iktar b’saħħitha mill-formazzjoni governattiva preżenti. Fil-kuntest Malti, formazzjoni governattiva, anke jekk b’forma ta’ moviment jew koalizzjoni, irid ikollha fiċ-ċentru tagħha wieħed miż-żewġ partiti ewlenin, bħala l-akbar żewġ forzi politiċi li jeżistu. Ovvjament kulħadd jagħmel l-għażliet tiegħu.
Għalhekk, nemmen li daqs kemm huwa importanti li f’demokrazija wieħed jitkellem u jkun attiv kontra xi deċiżżjoni, stil jew politika tal-Gvern, huwa daqstant importanti li wieħed jirrikonoxxi li Gvern jista' jinbidel bil-vot tal-poplu. Tajjeb li wieħed jagħraf il-politika tal-possibli, dik li hi ‘grounded’ fir-realta’ soċjali, dik li tisma’ u tanaliżża daqs kemm titkellem. Vot maqsum jista’ jiffavorixxi l-forza governattiva. U ħidma għall-forza governattiva differenti u rebbieħa fiha biċċa xogħol.

Monday, January 27, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (5)

Xi gażżetti irrapurtaw li hemm proposta ta' Louis Galea sabiex il-Partit Nazzjonalista ibiddel ismu għall-Partit Nazzjonali tal-Poplu. 

Jekk dan huwa minnu, l-appell tiegħi hu li jkun hemm proċess strutturat u wiesgħa ta' deliberazzjoni. 

Proċess fejn ikun hemm spazju fejn jiġu spjegati il-pożizzjonijiet, u fejn wieħed ikollu l-opportunita' li jisma' qabel ma jasal għall-konklużżjoni. Għax fil-politika, li tisma' u tgħarbel huwa importanti daqs li titkellem. Speċjalment f'kuntest fejn faċli tfajjar l-opinjonijiet fuq il-media soċjali. 

It-tesserati anzjani, żgħażagħ, politiċi, attivisti, dawk li jaħdmu wara l-kwinti, esperti, veterani u dawk li ssieħbu iktar riċentament kollha għandhom rwol importanti fil-proċess ta' deliberazzjoni.  

Partit m'hu propjeta' ta' ħadd ħlief tat-tesserati tiegħu, u biex ikun elett fil-gvern jeħtieġ koalizzjoni wiesgħa soċjali ma' forzi, gruppi u votanti lil'hinn mil-partit. Inkluż dawk li għandhom inqas preżenza fil-media soċjali. 

Għalhekk, jekk kemm il-darba ikun hemm proposta dwar l-isem, kemm id-demokrazija tal-partit kif ukoll dik tal-pajjiż għandhom jingħataw l-importanza meħtieġa. 

Thursday, January 23, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (4)

Il-legat ta' Joseph Muscat fejn kollox hu aċċettabbli sa kemm igawdu l-klikek, tikber  l-ekonomija u jintrebħu l-voti, imur lil hinn mill-parametri ta' politika sostenibbli. Dan il-mudell ser jibqa' fis-seħħ?

Mudell popolari, vera, iżda kemm jista jibqa' jiġi sostnut? U x'prezz qed tħallas is-soċjeta' Maltija? 

L-isfida għal min irid il-bidla u l-governanza tajba tibqa' kif tista' tibni politika popolari, rebbieħa u sostenibbli. 

A new political season? Michael Briguglio

In my fortnightly column in the Malta Independent I discuss the challenges of small parties, civil society and the main political parties in Malta today.

You can read the article here:

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-01-23/blogs-opinions/A-new-political-season-6736218753


Wednesday, January 22, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (3)

Mhux sew li xi membri parlamentari tal-Partit Laburista ippruvaw iwaqqgħu għaċ-ċajt il-proposta sabiex il-Kap ta' l-Oppożizzjoni Adrian Delia ikollu iktar riżorsi parlamentari biex iwettaq id-dmirijiet tiegħu.

L-Opożizzjoni, hi min hi, għandha rwol kostituzzjonali li tiskrutiniżża l-Gvern. Din hi funzjoni bażika f'demokrazija, l-istess bħal ma huma rwoli kostituzzjonali oħra li jiġu mħallsa minn fondi pubbliċi. Bil-proposta ta' l-Opożizzjoni tgawdi ukoll kull oppożizzjoni fil-futur, u dan jista' jsaħħaħ id-demokrazija.

Jeħtieġ li fir-riformi kostituzzjonali ta' Malta naħsbu bis-serjeta' biex ikollna parlament professjonali. Fost affarijiet oħra, dan jirrikjedi li jkun hemm riżorsi għal-riċerka professjonali, esperti li jgħinu fil-ħidma parlamentari, u politika li tkun ibbażata fuq l-evidenza.

Jeżisti ħafna talent - esperti, akkademiċi, riċerkaturi u professjonisti li jistgħu jgħinu fil-proċess politiku mingħajr ma jkunu politiċi. Ejjew nagħmlu użu aħjar minn dan it-talent, u mhux nippruvaw nagħmlu ballun politiku minn proposti għal parlament iktar professjonali.

Il-Gvern għandu opportunita' li jilqa' proposta kostruttiva favur iktar checks and balances. Nittama li jilqagħha.




Sunday, January 19, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (2)

Dak in-nhar, kien hemm suldat żagħżugħ, armat, flimkien ma suldati oħra f'stazzjon tal-ferrovija ġewwa Brussell. Sellimtlu. Ħassejt gratitudni għall-ħidma tiegħu. Forsi għax ftit  qabel rajt il-film 1917. 

Suldat. Jirriskja ħajtu għalina, għal dak li bnew ġenerazzjonijiet biex ingawdu l-libertajiet li għandna llum. 

Lura għal pajjiżna. Fl-isfera medjatika naqraw dwar in-nuqas ta' azzjoni ta' l-eks NonKummissarju tal-Pulizija, li fl-aħħar tneħħa, u dwar biżibilju ta' kontroversji oħrajn. 

Kien hemm ukoll il-kas tal-biki dwar l-allegati qattiela ta' Lasanna. Nistennew ġustizzja.

Iżda ejjew niftakru ukoll li hemm mijiet ta' ħaddiema fil-forzi armati, pulizija, protezzjoni ċivili u oħrajn li fis-silenzju, mingħajr surplus ta' slogans u mingħajr salarju għoli, qegħdin fir-ringiela ta' quddiem, jirriskjaw ħajjithom għal ħaddieħor. 

Il-paradoss tal-forzi ta' l-ordni: Parti mill-apparat ripressiv ta' l-istat, iżda b' ħaddiema li jiddefendu s-sigurtà u jpoġġu ħajjithom fin-nofs.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

#Ħsibijiet (1)

Sfera politika fejn jiġu diskussi l-ideat u l-proposti minflok ma noqgħodu nitgħajru, fejn nistgħu naqblu li ma naqblux, fejn nirrispettaw l-intelliġenza u l-għażliet ta' xulxin minflok ma ningħalqu f'tribujiet, fazzjonijiet u identitajiet esklussivi. Fejn ir-riċerka, l-evidenza u d-deliberazzjoni jiġu qabel l-assolutiżmi ideoloġiċi. Fejn ir-realtajiet soċjali li jingħataw importanza ma jkunux biss dawk ta' min jgħolli leħnu l-iktar - speċjalment fuq il-media soċjali. Fuq kollox fejn hemm parametri li jirregolaw il-prassi politika. Politika kostruttiva u mhux korrotta. Politika ta' koalizzjonijiet wiesgħa u mhux ta' għeluq. Politika li trid l-aħjar għal pajjiż u mhux l-aħjar għal xi klikka. Politika fejn ħadd m'għandu ċens perpetwu fuq il-poter.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Malta Constitutional Reform - Proposals submitted to the President - Michael Briguglio


I have submitted the following to the President of Malta - You can do the same via this link:

Malta’s constitutional reform should ensure that institutions are well-equipped to curtail excesses by governments. The reform process should be transparent, evidence-based and characterised by deliberation.

When the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) gave its recent verdict on Malta’s constitutional arrangements, separation of powers and judiciary, it made some very important observations which should be followed up in Malta’s constitutional reform process. For example, whilst the Prime Minister has considerable power, our part-time Parliament is too weak to exercise enough control over the executive branch of power. Besides, crucial checks and balances are missing, and Malta’s independent media and civil society are relatively weak.

Consequently, the Venice Commission made several recommendations to the Government of Malta which were principally intended to check the extensive powers of the Prime Minister. These cover judicial vacancies and dismissals; separation of powers; the need to strengthen the role of President, and the need to strengthen parliament by making it more professional, accountable and evidence based.  The Venice Commission also mentioned the need to limit the Prime Minister’s appointing powers and the need to limit appointments to positions of trust in the public service.

It is interesting to note that the Venice Commission recognised the challenges of having governance models in a small state like Malta. It emphasised that there is no uniform constitutional model for good governance.

Hence, there may be different variants of liberal democracy. Small states like Malta have characteristics which must be taken into account in scholarly, grounded analyses and policy recommendations. These include the proximity of politicians to electors, and the personalisation of politics.

It is imperative that the methodology of the consultative process for Constitutional Reform facilitates meaningful dialogue and deliberation. Qualified experts from respective fields should have proper space, time and ambience to deliberate alongside citizens, civil society, constituted bodies, minorities and political party representatives.

Some areas which I believe should be on the agenda of constitutional reform include accountable governance, institutional autonomy, finance of political parties and candidates (both income and expenditure), professionalization of parliament, individual rights, checks and balances, press freedom, political education, structured and evidence-based policy making, the role of civil society and the mainstreaming of sustainable policy.

I also recommend that the Constitutional Reform Committee carries out an expert review of possible models of consultation. It should ensure transparency about its methods of analysis of public feedback. Peer review can assist this process: Here, the consultation process and committee recommendations will be further subjected to evaluation by qualified reviewers. Besides, impact assessments should be carried out on proposals that are followed through.

The consultation process should have proper time frames, but it should not act as a speedy springboard for quick-fix solutions which can have unintended consequences. 



Thursday, January 09, 2020

Labour's power bloc - Michael Briguglio

In my fortnightly column in the Malta Independent, I critically discuss the main elements that underpin the Labour Party's power. You can read the article via this link:

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-01-09/blogs-opinions/Labour-s-power-bloc-6736218180



Sunday, January 05, 2020

How do we fix the republic? - Michael Briguglio

Comment given to Malta Today, 5th January 2020

I believe that if we want to ‘fix the republic’, we should first try to understand the status of Malta’s democracy. We should ground our analysis into the realities of a small island state.

We should give due importance to evidence-based social scientific analysis of its social structures and networks, but also of agency, of people’s everyday lives, affiliations, aspirations, concerns, identities, commonalities, differences and plural realities. We should investigate the intersection of political, economic, cultural, social, ecological and other factors. 

Such analyses can nourish concrete proposals for change such as Constitutional Reform. We should ensure that the constitution gives due importance to Malta’s small size:  For example, the proximity of politicians to electors, the multiple hats people wear, and the personalisation of politics cannot be ignored.

The methodology of constitutional reform should foster deliberation. To-date it is not clear what type of methodology is being adopted. There should be an expert review of possible methods of consultation; transparency in the analysis of public feedback; peer review of the entire process; and impact assessments of proposals that are followed through. Qualified experts, citizens, civil society, constituted bodies, minorities and political parties should have ample space and time to deliberate, beyond quick fix solutions and sloganeering.

Some areas which I believe should be given priority within constitutional reform include accountable governance, institutional autonomy, finance of political parties and candidates, professionalization of parliament, individual rights and responsibilities, checks and balances, press freedom, political education, structured and evidence-based policy making, the role of civil society and the mainstreaming of sustainable policy.

Through constitutional reform we can help avoiding having Prime Ministers who have excessive power and lack of accountability.  But let us also keep in mind that in a liberal democracy a governing formation can only be replaced by another one – and this requires people’s support.