Mintoff’s appearance intentionally evolved in parallel with his politics. In the 50s he had a slick look….

Listen, the Brits ruined our Mediterranean culture and made us loathe it, exploited us…and no one every criticises them! Mintoff, is a post-colonial product like many dictators in Africa. Malta needed him, but as time went by he messed up. The man who philosophically started to enlighten the country in the 50s, pulled it down into the abyss of mediocrity.

But Mintoff was no simpleton. Everything he did was calculated including his ‘tar-rahal’ look (with his horse buckle, etc)… This was a a bloke who was sporty, ate well, he was Oxbridge-trained, married into nobility and sent his children to the poshest public (public means posh private schools not ‘tal-gvern’) schools…!

I love the analogy!

Paul, seriously: what on earth has Labour got to do with your love life? Let’s call a spade a ‘spade’!

To be honest, yes I could – you’re in Malta, afer all! On top, Dalli is not a minister and I hope she’ll never be.

But, anyhow – Sant couldn’t be bothered to be round such people. And the rest is history!

The film is – and here I’m explaining in a nutshell and not really doing it justice – basically about one Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, being tired of the status quo and trying out his hand at Christmas when he discovers the holiday. He kidnaps Santa Claus to take his place, while – not knowing better – giving Christmas his own Halloween twist. Things don’t end well on that front, however, and Jack is attacked by the military for (unwittingly) attacking children and ruining Christmas. Jack realises he’s not meant for Christmas after all.

So what are the parallels with Labour? Well, Labour is in similar place Jack was in when he discovered Christmas Town. Tired of the status quo, they want to rule/govern Malta, and brought down the government to do it (like kidnapping Santa Claus). Like Jack, they are not adapt to do so and if they try to add their own style of things will just make a mess of it. Hopefully, the comparison holds true for the rest of the story as well, as the people around them (voters) realise this and shoot them down.

I do admit, though, that while Labour can therefore stand in for Jack Skellington, it lacks his intelligence, wit, charisma, charm, good intentions and wonderful singing voice.

And to drive home the whole point of Labour’s hollowness even more, I’m pretty sure Dalli didn’t know just what ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ actually is or its story, but chose to use it because of its title and gothic imagery. Too bad the substance of the story seems lost on her.

Perception would have been that this party has really the national interest at heart and did what no opposition has done before.

Now it’s too late. I wouldn’t put it past by me that they will lose the elections yet again.