Labour executive to debate election result

The Malta Labour Party executive committee is to meet this week to discuss the election result and choose a date for the general conference in which the party leader is confirmed or replaced.

The casual elections, which take place when candidates elected from two districts relinquish one of their seats, are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.

The party administration met last week and the executive is expected to meet on Wednesday. The general conference is likely to be held on May 15 or 22. The deputy leaders are elected in another general conference a week later.

Party secretary Jimmy Magro said when contacted yesterday the party was "steady as she goes".

"Things take their time. We are going by the party statute," he said.

Asked whether the party administration - the president, the general secretary, the international secretary, the education secretary and other such posts - were contemplating quitting, Mr Magro said the administration's term of office ended in January 2004 and there was no need for them to resign now, even if there is a new leader.

"In 1992, we had a new leader and the administration remained in place. There is nothing unusual in this," he said.

Party sources said that although Alfred Sant had declared he was not prepared to contest the leadership post he may be "convinced" to stay on, at least until January, when things would have "cooled down". "If this happens, those interested in the party leadership would have their enthusiasm dampened by that time," the sources said.

There are three principal trends of thought in the MLP at the moment. One wants Dr Sant to stay, another wants to see him leave but wants a "safe replacement" who would not make too many changes. The third, which is currently very low key, would prefer the party to start off with a clean slate, have a pro-EU leader and one who would make a clean sweep at various levels of the party to ensure it wins the next general election.

Those who want Dr Sant to stay on argue that he should not be blamed for the electoral defeat. The sources said feedback from the party indicated that Dr Sant might agree to stay on.

"One thing is certain. If Dr Sant shows an inkling to stay, he will not be contested and if a contest is held in which Dr Sant is involved he is likely to win," the sources noted.

"There is a tangible movement that wants to see Dr Sant out, but it is very fragmented," the sources added.

Several names are being mentioned as prospective candidates for the leadership post if Dr Sant decides to step down.

John Attard Montalto, known to be very close to Dom Mintoff, has made his intentions clear. Anglu Farrugia is seen as another contender. Some see Evarist Bartolo as one of the front runners. Party delegates and officials of both the party itself and of the General Workers' Union have been urging George Abela to run for the post.

Those who would like Dr Sant to leave are waiting to see what happens at the May 1 celebrations as the event could manifest the support Dr Sant and the two deputy leaders, George Vella and Joe Brincat, enjoy or otherwise.

Party delegates harbour divergent views on how the party should proceed, with extremes ranging from those who want the party to declare it will pull Malta out of the EU to those who say the EU issue should be considered closed and the party should move ahead with the times.

The fact that parliament will be convened in three weeks' time militates in favour of Dr Sant hanging on, at least for the time being, the sources noted.