News • 04 MAY 2003

Attracting the elusive floating voters

Jose Herrera, a lawyer by profession and freshly elected on the Labour ticket, believes the MLP is not attractive to floating voters. He speaks to Kurt Sansone about the changes that need to take place

Jose Herrera does not hide his disappointment at the result of the general election, which has confined the Labour Party to another five years in Opposition.

The young successful lawyer, elected for the third time, attributes Labour’s loss to two main issues: the European Union and the MLP’s propaganda machine.

"There isn’t one reason for the defeat but the European Union issue was one of the reasons. It now seems clear that there is a majority of people that favours Malta joining EU," Herrera says.

He also argues that the Labour Party failed to attract a majority of people despite government’s dismal track record on the domestic front.

"The disparity of almost 13,000 votes between the parties is still quite strong and it is more significant and worrying when you consider that the PN has been in government for almost 16 years. Moreover, while concentrating on the European Union issue, the Nationalist government did not perform well on the local level.

"If you have to examine the performance of the different ministries, especially tourism and the environment I don’t think the Nationalist Party performed well. There were a lot of disgruntled people, but for some reason the Labour Party failed to attract the floaters like it had successfully done in 1996."

The lawyer pauses for a moment. "The second reason is that the Labour Party failed to attract within its fold the floaters and the disenchanted Labourites that did not vote for the party in 1998."

He explains that the attitude of the MLP’s propaganda machinery might have played an important role in stimulating enthusiasm among the grassroots but at the same instant it could have scared away the middle-man and the floater.

Herrera does not mention anyone in particular, even when asked whether Manwel Cuschieri was to blame for this attitude.

"I’m not mentioning Manwel Cuschieri as such. I am mentioning the general trend of the MLP media and even sometimes us parliamentarians. We took too much of an aggressive approach. It made us look as if we were interested only in our core voters and our attitude could have made people uncomfortable when considering coming back to the party."

Herrera describes the MLP’s attitude over the last five years in the same way Mintoff used to describe his enemies: ‘Min hu maghna maghna, min mhux maghna kontra taghna’ (Who is with us is with us, who is not with us is against us).

With hindsight Herrera believes that after the 1998 election the Labour leadership carried a chip on its shoulder for too long a period. He then corrects himself and includes all of the Labour Party.

"We, and I say ‘we’ because I shoulder my part of the responsibility, carried the chip on our shoulder for far too long. We didn’t manage to bridge with floaters. The MLP will always remain strong but that is not enough. If it wants to win an election the Labour Party has to create bridges and be able to attract the people in the middle. And that is where I think the party has failed."

He then says that on certain issues the party took rigid stands and elicits the ongoing war of words between the Labour Party and the English language media as an example.

"I agree with the criticism being levelled that the English newspapers had a subtle tone against us but I don’t think we tackled that problem correctly. You don’t react by rubbishing a forum that is being read by a substantial number of people. We have to try and befriend the newspapers. Even when it came to certain PBS broadcasts. I don’t doubt that there was a certain undertone against the MLP, but I don’t think we tackled the situation in the best way possible."

Prompted to comment on the boycott levelled against Xarabank and Bondi+ by the Labour Party, Herrera does not wince.

"I have no doubt that Bondi+ has an undertone against the MLP. In a very subtle way it was pro-Europe and it was damaging to the Labour Party. The obvious reaction is ‘these are against us so we boycott them’. I am not saying that we should or we shouldn’t, but I am questioning the decision taken, of which I was part of. These are issues that now, in calmness, the Labour Party should reconsider. You should never get yourself into a cul de sac and shut out all options."

Herrera shifts the discussion back to the European Union issue and admits that the Labour Party has a problem, not least to convince die-hard Labourites, who are in principle against the EU.

"Undoubtedly the Prime Minister had a strong mandate to go and sign the accession treaty. Now the Labour Party has a problem because it has to reconsider a number of issues.

"To start with, the treaty will soon come to parliament for ratification. The issue of whether ratification can be achieved by a two-thirds majority can only be raised if the question of neutrality is tied with accession. Treaties need only a simple majority.

"The decision on how to vote will be taken within the parliamentary group. But I think the parliamentary group now has to reconcile its position in favour of an alternative arrangement with Europe and the fact that people want EU membership.

"I don’t think the Labour Party would be wise at this point in time to come up with the idea of pulling Malta out of the EU. In five year’s time Malta would have been in the EU for four whole years. It will have its own Euro MPs. I don’t think the MLP should say that it would pull Malta out as is being preached by Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Dom Mintoff."

On the issue of neutrality Herrera urges the party to work within the European Convention. "The party should fight for Malta’s neutrality to be guaranteed in the Convention. Government has managed to negotiate a protocol and I don’t say that it is rubbish as some would argue. It is better than nothing, it is an achievement. But perhaps it would be a bigger achievement if we manage to push forward a proviso within the EU Constitution that guarantees the neutrality of member states."

Herrera understands that it will be difficult to convince the grassroots of the party of a change of heart on the EU, but insists there are very little options.

"For me the EU is not a principle despite being a very strong issue. It is not an issue that challenges my socialist principles. Furthermore, the socialist parties in Europe are the most fervent supporters of EU integration and federalisation."

With a smile he adds: "It is the conservatives, especially the British who are against the EU."

Was it a mistake for Labour not to participate on the Meusac committee that was involved in the negotiations?

Herrera smiles. "You have to see decisions within the context when they were taken. That was a decision debated in the parliamentary group soon after the 1998 election when we were still bitter for what happened. One can revisit that decision today, but at that point in time it seemed a good decision."

But Herrera is convinced that the Labour Party will overcome the problems related to EU membership. "The party has five years and although this is a veritable problem today I don’t think it will be an issue in five years time."

Talk turns to the leadership of the Labour Party.

"After every election, even a winning team reconsiders everything. I never stated that the leadership of the party should resign. However, when asked, I commented on the fact that there have been two elections and the Labour Party was defeated soundly. I said the leadership might themselves, in the circumstances consider stepping down. If they do step down then obviously it should be an open ballot. Nobody should be anointed.

"Whether they should resign or not is something the leadership trio has to decide. They have to evaluate everything. Alfred Sant had made a declaration that he was not interested in contesting the leadership of the party. Obviously, when he said that he opened a vacuum. It is only natural that other people should show interest.

"There was John Attard Montalto, who expressed himself openly, some also mentioned Evarist Bartolo who would have been a valid contender, Karmenu Vella who is definitely a very valid person was also mentioned as a possible contender and they also mentioned people from outside, who could also be valid contenders. Now Alfred Sant has said he will contest and the scenario has changed once again."

Herrera says that it would be unfair and undemocratic if the party should blacklist people, who have shown an interest in contesting the post of leader.

"I am sure that people who have shown interest have done so because they felt that the leader was going to withdraw. I don’t think the party should take it against these people because they showed interest once the leader made his statement. That would be very undemocratic and unfair."

Herrera adds: "From my personal point of view I love politics because I don’t need politics for my livelihood. For me politics is not a do or die thing. If I needed politics because I am employed with the party, and my salary depended on it I might be speaking differently. Politics and parliament have been an experience and the threat of being blacklisted does not scare me because my life will still go on. But other people might be scared to be blacklisted."

He contends that a change in faces could be important to attract the elusive floaters. "New people will always attract new voters. Some argue that you cannot do without somebody. I believe that you might suffer for the beginning without somebody, but when a Pope dies they always find another Pope. To speak about change isn’t wrong."

Talking about his personal ambitions Herrera says that he is too young and inexperienced for the post of leader. However, he is considering contesting one of the posts for deputy leader if the incumbents do not contest.

"I am not saying that I am a definite candidate for one of the deputy leadership posts. If there are vacancies and the circumstances are such that I feel that for the good of the party it would be opportune for me to contest, I will submit my candidature. But I will not lobby to remove anybody from there," Herrera says.

He speaks well of deputy leader George Vella and describes him as a moderate, intelligent and knowledgeable person on foreign affairs. "I will definitely not contest against George, if for no other reason out of respect. But if he decides to step down I will consider."

Herrera explains that he was invited to join the Labour Party before Alfred Sant’s time but he refused. "The political climate wasn’t right at the time but in 1996 it was a fresh party and that enticed me to contest the election."

Herrera contends that it is important for parliamentarians to speak their mind even if he insists on loyalty toward the party line.

"To be a cocktail-party parliamentarian is not something for me. You can easily be a parliamentarian who enjoys the prestige of being invited to parties and then keeping your mouth shut. I don’t need to be a politician to be a cocktail-party animal. As a parliamentarian elected on the party ticket I am loyal to the party line, but I believe that it is healthy to speak one’s mind."