Everyone’s wiser with hindsight, and with hindsight, we should have seen this result coming.  The fact that many of us did not, or, more specifically, were duped into believing that this wouldn’t happen, is yet another feather in the cap of Muscat’s total control of the state of affairs both within his party and the country.
Joseph Muscat got his way yet again, and, if the state of affairs is to be believed, he also got his way over the wishes of the majority of his cabinet.
One does not need to look further than the various signs that Robert Abela demonstrated throughout his campaign to see that he was indeed Muscat’s preferred choice.  Firstly, Abela spoke of a ‘diabolical pact’ in trying to install Chris Fearne automatically as party leader – words that are testamentary to Muscat’s modus operandi.  His contempt for the independent media, him stating that he was the underdog, the cockiness in him stating that the numbers were looking good for him (when all media outlets indicated the contrary), and his total nonchalance in giving government jobs or tenders to his own firm as, in his view, there wouldn’t be a conflict of interest, are all traits of Muscat’s “legacy” over the past decade.
This is why Muscat needed five weeks, or forty-two days, before a new leader could be elected.  He knew that Fearne was going to contest and that Fearne represented some kind of clean up or salvage mission.  He knew that he needed time to fast track and ‘coach’ Abela in order to place him in pole position to continue what he started.  He knew that if he strategically placed himself behind Abela without stating who he was backing, Abela’s words would strike a chord with the Labour faithful and that they would back him in droves.
It said it all, really, when last night, Neville Gafa’ posted a Facebook status stating “kontinwita” (continuity).  Prima facie, Prime Minister Abela does indeed represent continuity, as Joseph Muscat will no longer be the Prime Minister on paper but will almost certainly continue to be just that in theory.
Muscat, the replica of Mintoff insofar as a Labour cult is concerned, has just managed to firmly secure the second coming of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.  The only difference for Malta is that back in 1985, the Nationalist Party had a strong opposition leader, while in 2020, it is has been decimated to the core and is anything but an alternative at the polls.
Lord, help us all.