News • 1 June 2003

New Labour’s new face

A week after being elected MLP deputy leader for party affairs, Dr Michael Falzon talks to Kurt Sansone about his new job

Few people outside the Labour Party knew Dr Michael Falzon before his election as deputy leader party affairs.

But the soft-spoken lawyer has a firm grip on the party’s grassroots. Since 1993 he has headed the MLP’s electoral process, which involves the co-ordination of more than 3,000 volunteers that soar to 5,000 during election time.

But Falzon is also remembered for what he said during the MLP general conference in the summer of 1998, when a decision was being taken on whether to go for an early election.

Falzon was the only other person along with then-deputy leader Dr George Abela to express an opinion against the holding of an early election. However, Falzon had also said that, irrespective of what decision the conference took, he would remain loyal to the party.

"I said what I said at the time because as the person in charge of the electoral process, with feedback coming from the grassroots in all localities, I felt that going to an election in those circumstances the party would lose. However, I remained loyal to the party in 1998, 2003 and today it is not my loyalty that must increase, but my commitment. When I met delegates in the run up to the deputy leadership contest I felt they appreciated my loyalty to the party. They realised that what I said back then was genuine."

Falzon describes Dr George Abela as a respectful colleague. "I have absolutely no problem with George Abela. I worked with him for nearly five years because the electoral office fell under George Abela’s responsibility as deputy leader party affairs, apart from the secretary general. Today in my new post I appreciate the immense job George Abela had to carry out at the time."

He continues: "My relationship with George Abela is the same as it was before, based on mutual respect. He is very human and gave his service to the party."

The obvious question pops up. Does George Abela have a place in the Labour Party today?

"I believe that anybody who gave his service to the party should be respected. But this is not something that I have to decide about. I believe that anybody who has the same principles of the Labour Party should find his place in the party but this question has to be addressed to Dr Abela."

Soon after being elected as deputy leader Falzon called for an MLP that is more inclusive. The implication is that up until now the party failed to reach out enough.

"No, it does not necessarily mean that. They tell me that I am very people oriented. That’s up to others to decide, but I strongly believe that the strength of any organisation is its people. The party has different people at various levels with varying responsibilities. An important element is the feeling of belonging to the party, but I want to go a step further. More than just being members, party people should feel they are important to the organisation. It doesn’t mean everyone will be leader or deputy leader but each person should feel she, or he, is important to the party in their respective role."

The strengthening of internal party dialogue also featured prominently in the deputy leadership contests. Falzon says it is necessary for people to feel important and for MLP members to feel they play a part in the decision making process.

"There are the structures set up by the party statute but a suggestion from the delegates was the holding of conferences where particular issues are discussed. You could call them discussion forums. Another element is the creation of workshops. Delegates also asked to have parts of the general conference, or other forums closed to the media. The idea is not to hide things from the media but to allow delegates who wish to speak, but are media-shy, the opportunity to voice their opinions."

The rocky relationship between the Labour Party and the media is also a topical issue. Falzon is under no illusion. He knows the media plays an important role in society. "The independent media has a strong role and it would be useless arguing to the contrary. Everyone can draw their own conclusions on the relationship between the MLP and the media, but I believe the party should be present in all media.

"A political party needs to relay its message and every tool has to be used. Personally I had little contact with the media prior to my new post, but I am open to have the best relationship with the media. As long as I am reported faithfully I am ready to speak with anybody."

The subject turns to the MLP boycott against TV production company Where’s Everybody?

"This is a very topical subject," Falzon says letting go a smile. "Every medium is important. I won’t say the boycott was a mistake, but if it was, I formed part of that mistaken decision. However, I believe the party must be present in the media and if the programmes produced by Where’s Everybody? are popular then I think the party could have lost a platform. Nonetheless, I do think that in certain programmes produced by Where’s Everybody? there was a political agenda. Personally I insist that as a political party we need to reach the majority of the people with our message. The boycott decision can change and I have no difficulty if it changes."

Falzon does not see any contrast between the aspirations of the party die-hards and floating voters. "Any party that aspires to win elections needs to have the majority of people behind it. On 12 April we did not have the majority behind us so we have to reach out. If we do not reach out we will remain a large party in opposition."

Falzon considers the issue of EU membership a closed affair. "Membership is a non-issue because it is now a reality. Today there is no scope in discussing that issue," he says.

"The difficulty or rather the issues at stake now are the implications of membership under the negotiated package. As a party we should remain true to our principles of defending workers’ rights and we should ensure that the country is not badly affected. But we should also live the new reality and have the courage to rise to the occasion and take the opportunities that come our way.

"The EU was never an issue fundamentally against the Labour Party’s principles. It was only a matter that concerned the type of relationship we wanted."

Falzon does not agree that Alfred Sant’s re-election as leader is sending the electorate a mixed message.

"This is a democratic party and the delegates had a right to choose as they did. Now we should look ahead and move forward.

"I have a working relationship with Alfred Sant having co-ordinated the party’s electoral process since 1992. Today Alfred Sant, Charles Mangion and myself have to work together to deepen our relationship."

But the turmoil in the party is not yet over with an internal movement pushing for early administrative elections.

"Charles Mangion was not asked this question," Falzon interjects with a smile. "One must appreciate that in my new role I cannot say what needs to be done. The party is regulated by the statute and it would be premature at this stage and irresponsible for me to say that the administration should, or should not change."

Falzon’s late father was a party die-hard but his enthusiasm never rubbed off on his son, that is until somebody enticed the lawyer to give a helping hand in the 1992 election.

"I was never active in politics, on the contrary I am what you could call a late comer on the scene," Falzon says.

"It was 1992 when somebody asked me to give a helping hand during the election and from then on I just got drawn in gradually. Eventually I ended up co-ordinating the electoral process. I cannot say that I regret it even if there are a lot of sacrifices to be made. What worries me most now is whether I would be able to live up to the expectations and aspirations of those that showed trust in me."

Being at the heart of the party’s electoral process any electoral loss is a disappointment. Possibly the hardest part of the job is breaking the news to party officials and functionaries during the first half an hour of vote counting at Ta’ Qali. "People watch you to try and interpret your facial expressions. That is a responsibility that I had to shoulder."

And Falzon did shoulder that responsibility even if the outcome of the last two elections was not good at all for him and the MLP. He only hopes that the story will be different in five years time.