[WATCH] Bonnici stresses ‘good behaviour’ as part of campaign for deputy leadership

Culture minister Owen Bonnici launches his deputy leader campaign

Culture minister Owen Bonnici presented a 20 point-plan, highlighting “correct behaviour”, as part of his bid to become deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Speaking at the launch of his campaign, ‘Qrib tieghek’, Bonnici said that the proposals being made were a response to the challenges that the party would be facing in the coming months.  

One of the proposals includes stressing correct behaviour for all members of the Party to be a true example of accountability.

Asked whether the recent Panama Papers revelations, embroiling energy minister and former deputy leader of the party Konrad Mizzi and the prime minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri were in line with this frame of mind, Bonnici admitted that some were disappointed by the decision taken, but he insisted that the PM had showed decisiveness in the issue.

“I will work to ensure that more steps will be taken towards transparency in the party and in appointments of people in public positions among others,” he said, adding that he would ensure that his actions were always in line with the party ethos.

Referring to his fellow nominees for the post, Bonnici said that the competition showed that there were many willing to give a lot to the party.

Brushing off suggestions that he had been prevented from running for the election of the post in February this year – when Mizzi was elected – Bonnici said that he had believed that the latter was the best fit for the party's needs at the time.

“However things have turned out now, I truly believe Mizzi has shouldered responsibility,” he said, referring to Mizzi’s apology in Parliament.

Bonnici insisted that the ambitious proposals were a labour of love after his long journey with the party.

Among the proposals, Bonnici listed a meeting of local committees and branches, 100 days after the election to involve them in the workings of the party, as well as to carry out groundwork with the committees themselves.

Bonnici added that he was committed to involving committee members by inviting them to three meetings of the Labour Party administration, at least three times a year.

“I also propose to have a specific official for party affairs in Gozo, to further strengthen the voice of the sister island, as well as to create a calendar of activities for the party on a national level, to bring the Party closer to the community.”

Bonnici said he is committed to ensuring that the party is not judged for its controversies but for its ideas to run the country. He further highlighted that the themes of his campaign were stability, synergy and social justice, themes that were central concerns to Labour Party roots.

Among his other proposals, Bonnici lists financing the party better according to the latest party financing laws, as well as strengthening the reach and performance of PL media.

He added that he would also ensure contact between the party and the government to ensure better synergy between the two.

“I also propose to reform the hands-on customer care system, to ensure that people are given a reply to their queries after a maximum of 15 days, as well as a new initiative to allow ministers and government representatives to meet members of the public at the Labour headquarters,” he said, adding that he also intended to offer the facility to social and environmental groups who required a place to meet.

Bonnici also promised that he would be strengthening the artistic and cultural element of the party, as well as commissioning a study to analyse better wealth distribution, with an aim of increasing social justice in society.

“I will also ensure that the PL gives better access to the teaching of music, the arts and other extracurricular activities,” he said.

He further outlined his proposals and said that he wished to bring unions and workers’ groups together every two months for discussions, as well as starting a professional survey into precarious jobs and how to fight the phenomenon.