News • 27 April 2003

Unclear whether MLP leadership trio will re-contest posts

Kurt Sansone

Despite tendering their resignation during last Wednesday’s national executive meeting, it is still unclear whether the Labour leadership trio will contest their respective posts once again. Contacted by MaltaToday, both deputy leaders, Dr George Vella and Dr Joe Brincat declined to state their intentions.

In the meantime Dr Alfred Sant stated that he might reconsider the decision not to contest the post of leader after receiving repeated calls from Labour supporters and mayors.

The resignation letter, the contents of which were revealed by George Vella on Manwel Cushieri’s radio programme on Thursday, stipulates that it is not excluded that the resigning officials will offer their services to the party in the near future.

In the letter the leadership and administration of the party said they were offering their resignation with a sense of responsibility and not out of guilt.

When asked whether he would recontest his post, Deputy leader for party affairs Joe Brincat told MaltaToday: "What I had to say I said during the executive meeting and that is a closed meeting. I cannot answer your question."

The same reply was forthcoming from George Vella. "I haven’t answered that question and I will not answer it now. There are a lot of factors that one has to consider," Vella said.

Nominations for the post of leader will open on 8 May, a week before the general conference scheduled for 15 May. The first session of the general conference will determine who will be the Leader of the Opposition while the second session of the general conference, scheduled for 22 May, will determine the posts of deputy leader. The nominations for the two deputy leader posts will open on 15 May.

The decision on whether the incumbents intend to re-contest their posts may have a determining say on the outcome of the contest. Party delegates clamouring for change are wary that the Labour leader may yet change his mind at the final hour. They contend that any contest, which includes Alfred Sant will be a non-starter because the Labour leader will ride on a wave of sympathy and easily carry the day.

Few people would be ready to contest Sant, or for that matter the two current deputy leaders.

Apart from the public declaration made by John Attard Montalto that he would be interested in contesting the post of leader, the contest has been characterised by an uncanny silence from other possible contenders.

Party delegates say that former education minister Evarist Bartolo and former deputy leader George Abela are at the forefront of the leadership race even if both contenders have declined to comment publicly.

The other challenger for the post of leader is likely to be Mosta lawyer Anglu Farrugia, even though the former police officer has yet to officially decide on his nomination.

George Abela is seen by many as the ideal person to unite the party and bridge the gap with middle-of-the-road voters that deserted the party in two consecutive elections.

Given Abela’s participation on Meusac (Malta-EU Steering Action Committee), which was involved in all aspects of the negotiations with the EU, he is considered by some delegates as the ideal person to lead a reformed Labour Party that embraces EU membership. He also enjoys wide support among GWU officials.

The drawback Abela faces is that he is not a Member of Parliament, which means that somebody would have to give up his place in Parliament so that Abela could be co-opted.

On the other hand, Evarist Bartolo is also considered to be the ideal person to bridge the gap with middle class voters. Bartolo is the only Labour MP, apart from Alfred Sant and George Vella, to be elected from two districts.

However, Bartolo’s closeness to Alfred Sant may not make him popular with delegates wanting change, even if he enjoys the current administration’s support.

A number of contenders could be lining up to run for the two deputy leader posts. Leo Brincat and Jose Herrera have already stated that they would contest the post of deputy leader if the incumbent decides not to contest.

Election manager Michael Falzon, who has declined to comment, is reportedly interested in contesting Joe Brincat’s role as deputy leader for party affairs.

kurt@maltamag.com