Democracy is a Big Word

Election campaigns are far more civilised today as changing times have brought about new attitudes and greater tolerance than years gone by. Well nearly?

All this may be due to greater political maturity, the milder temperament (at times) of the new breed of politicians and the fact, that most of them prefer today to get their information through newspapers, radio, television and of course with social media.

Free democratic elections held locally or anywhere else are considered a hallmark of democracy at work. Europeans are said to vote primarily for their party of preference while the Americans tend to support the individual candidate with less emphasis on party affiliation. Locally, we tend to follow the European model.

Finances and the Economy Least Motivational Issue for the Electorate!

Our political development has not reduced the sharp keenness that characterises the local political scene, similarly to many other countries abroad. Although sometimes I do wonder if politicians ever learn, in contrast to the electorate or whether they, the politicians, ever give up making the same mistakes as we often witness from some.

Financial issues are again set to dominate a large part of the election campaign. It is expected and most of the public are dreading it, as the economy is the least motivated election issue that really stirs the masses. In fact, it turns people off as many voters struggle with concepts like GDP, deficits, investments and profits and others. Which are the same repetitive (economic) political stunts said to confuse!

But why do I say this? If you form part of a political class, particularly those who have invested and actually work in all this tax sovereignty and the Rocks financial model malarkey world of ours, it is hard to paint yourself as some different breed of politician as you often hear from the main Opposition party, whose own commitment to scrutiny, fair play and appearing whiter-than-white, is only limited to their political ends. Yet from a professional sense, the same people make a handsome living out of Gibraltar’s economic model!

I for one do not entirely agree with Gibraltar’s tax system worshipped by the financial industry and political class. But were I a politician, whose part-time earnings were dependent on clients in the financial services world, I would use my head and not my heart to come together with my adversaries to defend my little patch!

Though if truth be told, the opposition are not alone when it comes to the economy and national finances. MPs from both sides of the political spectrum suffer from this hypocritical streak. The point is, that today, political parties need to have a common stand on the financial and banking sector and not destroy or disparage it for the sake of a few election votes!

And the reason why it’s not hard to read, hear or pick up on the little political credibility with the latter scenario, especially when politicians talk of financial correctness when their parties own track financial credentials are so badly dented. Or do some political memories not extend pre-2011 and the previous 16 years.

23-09-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR