Secret ballots a poor start to open States

States rules dictated that questions could only be about P&R’s mandate. That its president chairs the Civil Contingencies Authority by default was incidental and thus the coronavirus was ruled out of bounds.

So a subject of supreme importance to islanders – the political response to Covid-19 – could not be put to either candidate.

Given the scale of Deputy Peter Ferbrache’s victory it made little odds. The election speeches and Q&A session had the air of going through the motions before a pre-ordained decision that had more to do with the after-effects of the 2016-2020 Assembly than 2020-2025.

Nevertheless, it would have been good to put on record the candidates’ views in a bid to understand the likely direction as the pandemic plays out. Few issues matter more.

The tricky balance between public health and open borders and both the conflicting and complementary interests of large chunks of the economy is a question as much of politics as science.

It was not to be and the island must wait for the first few briefings by a reconstituted CCA to get a sense of the new normal.

Jangling nerves around that wait and a lack of clarity about exactly what government the island has elected will not have been soothed by an extraordinary few days of elections.

Secret ballots are a poor way to start an Assembly which should be committed to open and transparent decision-making. That is especially true when, on the face of it, strange collective judgement calls are being made.

Few outside of the Chamber would like to call how today’s election of the last few presidents and then committee members will play out. Communication – something Deputy Ferbrache set much store by – has been poor.

If the fourth day of elections lives up to the first three there will be some jaw-dropping moments.

At least once that is over the veil of secrecy can be lifted for future meetings and it will become clearer who – if not why – is calling the shots.