News • October 12 2003

Lorna Vassallo

What new ideas, or strategies would you like to bring to the
position?
More interaction with and between local and district committees which would inevitably result in more incentive and acknowledgement of the ‘grass-roots;’ more educational schemes on national and local level through the party structure; definitely more politics through art; the idea of the politician with whom people can identify themselves and feel comfortable to speak to; a face-to-face resolution of conflicts; a better image to the party and politics in general; and in my particular case more female and youth participation in politics two areas in which national politics is still very lacking especially in the case of women where there is a bad need for us to stop being the "woman behind the man" but come to the forefront.
How should the Labour Party face the coming years?
Positively. The present political scenario is challenging. And challenge is always a catalyst of positive change. The Malta Labour Party can be very effective and to say the truth with the inefficiency of the Nationalist Party it’s hard not to be the best alternative on the island. The only thing is we all have to work as a team.
Why, in your opinion, did the Labour Party lose the last election?
The European Union won the last election. The Nationalist Party didn’t win it. The MLP didn’t lose it. The Nationalist Party is in government because it stuck to the EU policy and people voted for it, to get rid of it! Now that things will be equal again amongst the parties, the Maltese people will start voting for our national governments again. The only difference as to what people will be voting for in the future is a national government that can best defend our interest in the context of the EU – and Labour becoming a member of the PES, and with all the multicultural and multi-lingual input within it, in spite of having been rather sceptical of membership, has still withheld its position as a respected and esteemed party within the EU.
Why should people vote for you?
Firstly because I have spent most of my academic life studying to prepare myself for politics, but mostly because they see in me a new, young image – a guarantee of more change – new policies and strategies. New views in line with the time and hopefully a less boring image of a politician appeals to all – interested and uninterested in politics – especially instilling in the younger generation (whose idols have become just singers and actors) a sense of curiosity as to what politics is all about, and make them more participative. For the older generation my participation so far in the campaign has definitely brought nostalgia of the good old times of a Labour government thanks to an effective former woman Party Secretary General.