Joseph Muscat has criticised the Nationalist Party (PN) for shrinking its appeal and focus over the past decade, saying it now resembles an NGO rather than a full political party.
He explained that unlike NGOs, which concentrate on specific issues or sectors, a political party must present a broad programme that can govern the whole country.
Muscat pointed out that in other countries, NGOs have successfully transformed into parties by widening their appeal — such as Germany’s Greens or Italy’s Five Star Movement — but this often costs them their original identity.
In Malta, NGOs that tried this route failed to sustain themselves once faced with wider political realities.
In contrast, the PN has narrowed its message, focusing mainly on governance and some environmental issues, losing the diversity needed to attract broader support.
Muscat compared this to a piano playing just one note, no matter how good the musician is, the tune will fail to engage.
A chapel is small and familiar, with the same faces and a comforting routine. A church, however, is larger and more chaotic, filled with diverse people, distractions, and disagreements — yet it remains united as one community, Muscat wrote.
Muscat argued that the PN must become a church, saying that in the past 10 years it has changed 4 musicians but played the same note.
What do you think of Muscat’s commentary?
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