See this editorial of the Corriere di Malta, an Italian language website for expats living here.
The publication has expressed doubts about the sustainability of the growth of Malta’s properties for some time now. But they are taking their editorial concerns up a notch with this commentary, particularly now that it is witnessing quirky policy reactions from the used-to-be unassailable Joseph Muscat government.
The editorial reminds that news of poorer Maltese people sleeping in cars and on beaches are alarming in and of themselves. Interestingly it brings up Malta’s forgotten past of extreme inequalities and suggests poorer Maltese families might resort to emigration out of the country since they cannot afford to live in their country where richer immigrants are driving the cost of a roof over your head to unaffordable heights.
The government’s passport sales scheme does not help make things easier for the poorer among those born entitled to the passport.
Just because it’s loudly sung and in a foreign tongue, the insight of expats is not necessarily more qualified. Having said that though, it is our classically isolationist error to ignore people who live among us but were not born here not understanding that they have as much invested in the success of this country as we do.
As more people throw their arms up high despairing of local politics, we ignore the fact that during the next few years we are going to need more tough, smart, compassionate and competent politicians than we ever needed in living memory. We speak of good politicians like old people speak of movies and music: they don’t make them as good as they used to anymore.
Well, the making of politicians is in our hands. And they’re going to have a lot to do.