News • 1 June 2003

Contenders surface in battle for top MLP posts

Old and new faces are considering putting their names forward for the posts of Secretary General and president of the Malta Labour party, MaltaToday can reveal

The party’s national executive is warming up to a request to hold a general conference to choose a new administration seven months before the stipulated statutory deadline. Labour candidates Sharon Ellul Bonici, an extreme eurosceptic, Alfred Mifsud the financial consultant, Joe Chetcuti, teacher Alfred Grixti and Keith Grech may put their names forward for the influential and lucrative post of Secretary General.

As for the post of president, former AD stalwart Dr Wenzu Mintoff is being named as a possible replacement for Manwel Cuschieri. His appointment would contribute more grey matter to the post, and perhaps somewhat less in vitriol the public is used to from the Cuschieri field.

The present president Emanuel Cuschieri managed to commit political suicide single-handedly after contesting and achieving an appalling result in the deputy leadership race.

The collection of signatures for an early change in the administration is being pushed by two well-known Alfred Sant sympathisers.

Miriam Spiteri Debono, a notary and former speaker of the house who is consider to be a self declared aficionado of Alfred Sant and Ronnie Pellegrini, a former Lorry Sant acolyte and past GWU union section secretary.

The move to renew the administration is reported to have been blessed by Alfred Sant and is being interpreted as a move to give a semblance of change and to allow Alfred Sant to retain control of the changes.

It also confirms that attempts are being made to anoint others with ‘scapegoat status’ for the electoral defeat at the polls.

Top of the hit list is Emmanuel Cuschieri, but the same fate could lie ahead for incumbent Secretary General Jimmy Magro. The latter is still considered to be a central figure in the Labour party and appears to have much more clout and respect than any of the possible contenders.

His organisational abilities stand in high stead against many of the other contenders.

The civil war strife in what appears to be an internal skirmish between former Sant loyalists is being watched with interest by the ones who want Alfred Sant to quit the leadership. It has also come as a surprise for the George Abela loyalists who were not expecting such a move.

Indeed these wait in the hope that Alfred Sant will not sustain his leadership. On the other hand they argue that it would be suicidal to dismantle and change all the staff complement in the party in one quick swoop.

Some of the new contenders who at present have cushy jobs and handsome personal incomes from alternative sources are conveniently arguing that the Labour party needs to return to basics and enlist volunteers in the top administration.

If this line of thought wins they could possibly push the Labour party into a state of disrepair and administrative jet lag.

From behind the scenes it has been confirmed that many of the crucially wrong decisions such as the Xarabank boycott during the campaign were taken by Alfred Sant against the better judgement and advice of his immediate lieutenants.

It is expected that September coming the party will lift the boycott, but Alfred Sant will gain little on a personal level when the new decree comes into force.

The move by delegates Miriam Spiteri Debono and Ronnie Pellegrini has also not been taken well by the inner core at the Mile End.

Many feel betrayed that after their loyalty to Alfred Sant moves are being made to dump them before their time is up. What has been at best described as a contest between friends in Maltastar.com may well turn out to be a contest for survival.

The contenders for Secretary General

Jimmy Magro, a long serving secretary general who saw the transformation of the party from the mediocrity of the Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici days to the US style driven ‘New Labour.’

Pluses: Good organisational abilities, good team worker and relatively good relationship with the media. Captained Labour’s victory in 1996.

Minuses: Stood as secretary general during electoral defeat of 1998 and 2003.

Joe Chetcuti

Not very well known, stood as candidate but was never elected.

Pluses: Close to Alfred Sant.

Minuses: Bland

Sharon Ellul Bonici

The colourful ambitious eurosceptic militant who stood as a candidate in the last election.

Pluses: Close to Alfred Sant.

Minuses: Too anti-EU and not considered serious enough.

Alfred Mifsud

Former Head of Super One, financial consultant. Stood as candidate and deputy leader of the party.

Pluses: Organisational abilities and business like.

Minuses: Considered to be too ambitious and seen as clutching at straws.

Alfred Grixti

Former Education secretary and also a candidate

Pluses: Seen as a moderate and close to Alfred Sant

Minuses: Lacks charisma

Keith Grech

Former councillor and candidate, outspoken critic of Xarabank boycott.

Pluses: A young lawyer

Minuses: Too young and inexperienced.

Wenzu Mintoff

A former whip and MP with the MLP, who resigned to help found Green party. Left ten years later unwillingly and returned to Labour.

Pluses: Political animal and visionary.

Minuses: Not much of a team worker.