News • October 12 2003

Joe Chetcuti

What new ideas, or strategies would you like to bring to the position?
Should the delegates vest me with the privilege of serving the party as General Secretary I intend to work hard to transform the Malta Labour Party into an electable party. It is not in our country’s interest, nor in the interest of democracy, that the Labour Party is perceived as a strong Opposition Party. Labour should be also perceived as an effective alternative government.
I want the party to be more open, and I will do my utmost to create more space for everyone. Everyone should feel comfortable in the Labour Party, moreso those who recently distanced themselves from the party only because they prefered EU membership to partnership.
I want to establish a good working relationship with the independent media. In a democratic society the independent media plays an important role and a political party in Opposition does so too. The independent media is a necessary ingredient for democracy and all political parties in a democratic society are a necessary ingredient too. It is high time now for both sides to mutually respect each others importance.
And finally I commit myself to push forward all the necessary changes/alterations, structuraly or otherwise, in order to present a more organised, effective, and disciplined party.
How should the Labour Party face the coming years?
Labour has already done the most reasonable thing to do, that of accepting the electorate’s decision and vouching the Party’s contribution in this new reality. The British Labour Party and the Greek Socialists (PASOK) took years to come to terms with the reality of EU membership. And they anchored themselves in Opposition for years. Here in Malta we (the MLP) have accepted that the electorate has voted for Malta to join the EU and now the party will do its utmost to maximise the benefits and minimise the disadvantages.
The Malta Labour Party has to move forward and demonstrate to all and everyone that we are capable to lead this country. That we are better administrators than the Nationalists. That Labour can protect the sustainability of our social policy. And that Labour can provide a better standard of living. Labour must remain strong and solid to defend the workers’ rights and to offer its assistance to all those who are disadvantaged in our society.
Why, in your opinion, did the Labour Party lose the last election?
While I do not exclude that Labour could have made some few mistakes during the electoral campaign, I am more than convinced that the general election was lost and won over the EU issue. Labour’s electoral programme was by far superior to the PN’s, but the electorate remained focused on the EU issue. Should we go to the polls again in five weeks time, with the EU issue at the wayside, and with both political parties presenting the same electoral programmes, Labour will obtain a landslide victory.
Why should people vote for you?
I have been actively discussing my programme with Labour Party delegates for weeks now. They know full well, and in detail, my vision for the post. The message is very clear. I want to impliment a thorough reorganisation programme in all party structures. And while I intend to maintain all that is good, I want to promote change wherever change is needed.