A year or so ago, there were persistent reports that the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) was going to change its name into Partit Nazzjonali tal-Poplu (National People’s Party). The reasons commentators were putting forward were that, in this day and age, the term ‘nationalist’ had negative far-right connotations.
That event did not materialise. With the benefit of hindsight, it was perhaps a blessing in disguise that the change did not happen, since, a few months later, a new party was formed – branded as the Partit Popolari (Popular Party). According to media reports this party is a far-right party.
Nonetheless, many still have issues with the term ‘nationalist’ as this is perceived as portraying a rightist agenda. I will not go into the merits of how the Maltese voter thinks, I have done that elsewhere. What I would like to dwell on instead is what the term ‘nationalist’ might mean nowadays, in Malta.