Labour to hold six-day congress to approve election manifesto guidelines

The Labour Party will hold its congress to approve the guidelines for the electoral manifesto between Sunday 12 April and Friday 17 April.

The announcement was made by PL Deputy Leader Alex Agius Saliba and President Alex Sciberras in a Facebook broadcast for which the media was not invited.

Ironically, while they spoke of a party open to dialogue and consultation, the announcement was made from the Ta’ Qali Convention Centre without journalists being given the opportunity to ask questions.

The congress, with the theme Malta Aqwa (A Greater Malta) will kick off on Sunday in Gozo with an event during which the prime minister will reply to questions from the audience. On Monday and Tuesday, the party will hold assemblies for delegates and members, followed by a business breakfast with the social partners on Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, the party will hold five workshops during which civil society groups will be invited to share their concerns and ideas.

The congress will come to a close on Friday night at the Ta’ Qali Convention Centre with a highly anticipated speech by Prime Minister Robert Abela.

Agius Saliba said the party was statutorily obliged to hold a congress to lay down the guidelines for the manifesto up to one year before an election is due. He said the latest the election could be held is in 11 months’ time.

There is wide expectation that over the coming week, Abela could call an election with the most likely date being Saturday 23 May. The rumours are supported by the fact that the PL has already put out billboards across the country and candidates have been ramping up constituency activities. Abela also teased the possibility of an imminent election during his Freedom Day speech without using the word 'election'.

The congress itself is also a sign that an election could be round the corner.

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