Where do Labour’s deputy leadership contestants stand?

What is the first measure you’ll implement if elected PL deputy leader?

Cardona: Reaching out to all PL activists, particularly those who have become disgruntled or disappointed over the years, is a priority. Those who have distanced themselves throughout the years are the ones who can teach us the most. Since they are the ones who have subscribed to our ideology in the first place, their grievances should not be ignored. 

Bonnici: My tenure as deputy leader will be marked by direct contact with PL delegates, who undoubtedly deserve a more active role in the delivery of our political tasks. Within the first 100 days following the election, I will meet all local communities and fora to start implementing their wider role. I will also personally attend their meetings held in towns and cities across Malta and Gozo to play a part in the work conducted on the ground.

Zrinzo Azzopardi: Following the deputy leader election, I will meet and take the feedback of all district and local party committees as well as party members in the lead-up to the Labour Party national congress, a structure which was put in place when I was president of the party, to listen to all our members, take stock of our work as party and government, and start forming the guidelines that will lead us to the next general election. In preparation for the Congress, I will also kickstart an internal process to study the impact of various initiatives to improve work conditions, particularly the minimum wage. 

Do you think that minister Konrad Mizzi and chief of staff Keith Schembri should have resigned after they were named in the Panama Papers as holders of offshore companies?

Cardona: Mizzi and Schembri have both explained their position clearly, and their clarifications – indeed the giving of what I consider a sincere apology in Parliament – are the first of their kind in our political history. Labour in government does not only recognize its errors publicly, but takes definite action, which led to the Prime Minister taking difficult but necessary decisions. Of course I wanted Labour to have an unblemished run in government but that is not the way politics works, so you learn from your mistakes, acknowledge them and work on them. The legacy this government is leaving behind in what is political transparency and accountability in politics is the first of its kind in the country. 

Bonnici: Let’s put things into perspective. There are successful people, coming from professional careers or business ventures abroad, who relinquish their interests and settle their assets to get into politics and serve their country. Trusts are usually used as a tool to create a distance between the owner of wealth and the wealth itself. True, we have disappointed people who expected better ethical standards from us, but Mizzi and Schembri have explained the reasons behind their actions and subjected themselves to a fully-fledged independent tax audit.  

Zrinzo Azzopardi: There is no doubt that Joseph Muscat is the first PM who is clearly keeping his Cabinet accountable for their actions. The decisions taken by the PM are decisive and proportionate to the situation we found ourselves in. Because of the ethical standards the PL set, we are being held to higher standards, and the PM is keeping to the accountability he promised he would keep in government. 

Do you agree with Evarist Bartolo that it should be illegal for Maltese citizens to open offshore companies or bank accounts in jurisdictions that do not have tax information agreements with Malta?

Cardona: These are regular setups that have been under the radar for years. Now, because of the Panama Papers leak, a global conversation has been kick-started that Malta should also reflect upon. There is no clear cut solution, and the financial industry, politicians and principled citizens all over the world are grappling with its correctness and ethics. However, we must be very careful not to demonize a sector which has flourished for many years and which is responsible for so much economic prosperity internationally. 

Bonnici: While I personally see a lot of positives in this proposal, I believe that we have to take advice from experts to see what this suggestion might or might not have on our financial services industry. 

Zrinzo Azzopardi: I believe that Bartolo’s proposal should be given a lot of weight in light of the Panama Papers revelations which show that the Maltese intermediaries have set up over 700 companies in offshore jurisdictions. 

Do you agree with Caritas’ recent call to raise the minimum wage?

Cardona: As economy minister, I am at first-hand seeing the ramifications of our current record-breaking economy on all the layers of society. As soon as we were elected, government put in place a strategy to reinforce and nourish diverse sectors, attract sustainable investment and identify new investment niches. Such a strategy involves creating a healthy foundation of wealth and investment that will allow us to be in a position to truly address and make good of current social injustices. 

Bonnici: Caritas’ study has shown that the positive measures adopted by government, such as the tapering of benefits and in-work benefits, have started to effectively address the risk of poverty. As deputy leader, I intend to commission a study which identifies concrete ways which assure that our country’s wealth trickles down to all sectors of society. 

Zrinzo Azzopardi: I firmly believe that we should embark on a process to improve the minimum wage in light of the unprecedented economic success this government has achieved. If I am deputy leader, I will set in process an internal study on the impact of such a measure and will present it to government for consideration. 

Do you agree that the morning-after pill should be legalised?

Cardona: The inclusion of such a measure needs a re-education of what the morning-after pill truly is. Labour has always been at the forefront when it comes to acting on its civic duty in generating public discussion on issues that others in politics would rather not touch. Labour, as the leader when it comes to addressing social issues, cannot ignore this topic and definitely needs to continue exploring it. 

Bonnici: I am pro-life. This being said, I would like to listen to arguments – pros and cons – about this issue within Labour and such a debate should be held with an open mind.

Zrinzo Azzopardi: There is a need for discussion on such issues but my stand at this point in time is I consider the morning-after pill an abortive substance and I stand firmly against abortion. 

What, in your opinion, has been the Labour government’s worst shortcoming since it was elected? 

CC: Whilst Labour has fully taken on the role of governance, and is doing a good job, it has been criticised greatly from within its own supporters for abandoning the circles that it was strictly made up of before. When Labour shifted and focused purely on governance, it has seemingly lost base with its most loyal supporters, who feel abandoned. Being in Opposition for 25 years has created a common collective conscience within Labour supporters, that now in government and achieving other goals some feel thwarted. 

OB: I believe the worst shortcoming was allowing some controversies to attract more attention than the results we are obtaining for this country. That is precisely why I am stressing that the deputy leader role should bring stability and dignity to the Labour Party. Malta is doing well and will keep on excelling, and the Opposition has no way out except getting into our personal lives and blowing up arguments to distract public opinion from the major successes. We must respond with serenity and tranquillity. Time has come to avoid anyone or anything to dent the Prime Minister’s brilliant track record. 

SZA: In the enthusiasm to get things done, there was clearly a lack of attention to detail and at times government lacked the finesse to make things right from the start, such as the decisions taken on the Individual Investor Programme and the American University of Malta.