[Daphne – The Nationalist Party has not been in government for 25 years. It has been in government for 13 years.]

Of the last 5 elections won by the PN only ONE – 1992 – was won on the PN government’s merits. 1987 was won by the Raymond Caruana killing, the P.P.Busuttil frame-up ( the protagonist of which was later PROMOTED to Asst.Commissioner of Police !) and the Tal-Barrani episode. The 1998 election was given to the PN by Dom MIntoff. The 2003 was given to the PN by the procession of EU Presidents, Commissioners,, and the LM 100 million a year hoax. And the 2008 was stolen in the last few weeks by thousands of promises to everybody, and the tears shed by JPO in a made-up scene set up by Joe Saliba !

[Daphne – I won’t bother answering this crazed rubbish. Ever since my childhood I remember you arguing the merits of the Labour Party in letters to The Times. It is very difficult indeed to understand how, in 1987 and again in 1992, you voted Labour. You should have had your head examined, but now it’s obviously too late. How you could have possibly believed that Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was a better prime minister than Eddie Fenech Adami – and you clearly believe it still – is beyond me to understand.; You are clearly not illiterate, so you have no excuse.]

That is the crux of the argument. IF labour win the next election – and that’s a big if, i’ve yet to be convinced that labour will pull this one – it will be precisely because of this reasoning. Turn-taking taken to its most absurd, if you ask me.

It is the quality of the alternative government that they propose that matters. And there, its like we are still in 1987. Just look at their frontmen: Joe Grima, Alex Sceberras Trigona, Karmenu Vella, Joe Debono Grech …and a Leader who adores Dom Mintoff.

replace:the “I” with “Labour” in the last sentence and you get a better picture.

a) Ignoring, almost completely, the debacle that was the Labour Government; 1996-1998 – also demonstrated by the future Minister for Southern Affairs in your earlier piece.

b) Projecting its own dreadful, not so distant past onto the Nationalist Party. Highlighted all over the PL media, including on Jurassic Joe Grima’s weekly program.

C) The election-winning promise to reduce the nation’s electricity bills, no matter WHAT. Now that SargaSSSS seem to drifting off into the Labour sunset, I wonder what contingency plan Joseph has in place tom come good on that one?

Amongst other things, a good democracy needs good journalism and yours is the best.

We are already handicapped enough with having an unfit opposition; this country needs all the help it can get from quality writing to help people make informed choices.

The next election is a do or die for Labour.