The process that stifled free thought in the Labour Party came gradually but very effectively as a result of the 2019 national and political crisis. Today, the Labour Party is experiencing the negative effects of its own authoritarianism and criminality by lacking the culture and intellectuals a party needs to express its history in the context of its national celebrations.
The political and legal process by the Labour Party of covering up for Joseph Muscat and his criminal friends required a whole political party compromised with criminality and extensive abuse of power. It is difficult to bridge free thinkers and critics with this party policy and state of of political affairs. Today, the Labourr Party lacks the intellectuals and the critics, and most importantly a culture of free expression which is necessary for the creation of organic art and culture.
The Labour Party can pay Ira Losco to sing a Labour Party themed song and they can even make her pose for official government propaganda. However, Ira Losco, won’t ever genuinely make music in praise of the Labour Party or its political achievements. Most of the political music being produced today is actually against the government and some of it is even against the major political parties.
As Labour stifled free speech in its ranks, it also did the same through the public and culture and educational institutions. Labour’s capture of all of these institutions has dealt a significant blow to the development of arts, culture and research in Malta. Ironically, most of the historiographic research being produced in Malta today is funded by the Malta Book Fund: a remnant that, so far, remains standing despite the disruption and state capture of public cultural and educational institutions after 2019. The National Book Council is one of the only public entities in local history to have been found by a Constitutional Court to have committed political discrimination.
Labour’s war against free speech inside its ranks evolved into a war against free speech in general, a war against the press, and a war against the judiciary. Instead of developing free speech and culture, Labour gave us smart-shaming. The situation is so desperate that even some of the most loyal Labour Party officials are becoming frustrated at the lack of intelligent people inside the government and the Party. Recently the ex-Chief of staff of the Education Minister vented his frustration at the Minister’s unqualified officials in his secretariat. Minister Clifton Grima denied these accusations, but in reality, Labour Party insiders know that this is very well and true.
Incompetent bureaucrats, a lack of free speech and the frowning upon of criticism, are all features of the government system made by design and not as bugs. This is the only way the Labour Party can cover-up for criminals and abuse power. Among the negative repercussions of this situation is the direct and indirect suppression of culture, art and research.
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