Sant confirms leadership bid

Alfred Sant yesterday announced he would put his name forward for the post of Labour Party leader, and urged all those who felt they had a contribution to make to the party as leader to also submit their nominations.

He also said the MLP now had a duty to accept the people's decision in favour of EU membership.

The Labour leader was addressing the party's mass meeting at City Gate at the end of the May Day march in Valletta. The march started at Castille, passed through Merchants Street and Republic Street, and ended in Freedom Square. The General Workers' Union, led by general secretary Tony Zarb, also took part.

Dr Sant's decision to contest the election for the leadership post had been widely expected since he declared he was reconsidering his original decision not to run. The election is to be held at a party extraordinary general conference in two weeks' time.

Yesterday, after joining the party deputy leaders and MLP candidates in the march, Dr Sant dedicated much of his speech to the general election and the party's defeat.

May 1, he said, coincided with a difficult time for the MLP. But the party was still "firm and strong".

It now had to accept that the option proposed by the MLP within the democratic framework of the Constitution had not been accepted by the people. In these circumstances, the MLP was not going to argue that the people had not understood it.

"The choice has been made and democracy requires that the people's decision be accepted," he said.

At the same time, the MLP was insisting that when it adopted its position on the relation Malta should have with the EU, it was not because it was any less European than others. In fact it was more European because it saw its policy as being the best one in the country's circumstances.

The duty of the MLP from the Opposition benches was to accept the decision in favour of EU membership - not that it had been mistaken in its analysis of the issue but that the people had not accepted its policy - and to work in the best interests of the workers.

This would be the MLP's vision for the new circumstances that would be created under EU membership.

"We will stand united to reduce the effects of the disadvantages on workers. And we will do our best to ensure that the advantages that may result will truly serve as an advantage to the workers and not to some clique," he said.

Even though he believed that time would prove the MLP right, the party's aim was to apply all democratic means to safeguard the interests of the workers. There was no other way, because the aim of the MLP was to defend the workers.

At the same time it would strive to improve the way it functioned and become the most popular party. Where there was room for change and improvement, this had to be done transparently, calmly and after discussion.

However, while working to renew its ideals and principles, the party would retain its Labour soul.

Dr Sant then spoke about his responsibility as party leader in the wake of the election defeat, saying he could not let the occasion pass without doing so.

"Like any one of you, I see the defeat as a great burden because I really believed that our country needed not just the MLP as the party in government, but the MLP together with the policy it was promoting." Therefore, he had at first decided not to submit his candidature for party leader.

He said the MLP was a party with a direction. The PN's campaign had worked, but only now had the government broached the subject of pensions. The MLP had spoken about the issue throughout its campaign and had given guarantees.

He said there had been three reasons for his original decision not to contest the leadership post.

First, he believed responsibilities had to be carried. The second reason concerned the need for change, which was healthy for any organisation. The third was that he believed Malta in the framework of EU membership would see a reduction in the margin within which Maltese politics could be exercised.

"Whether we want to or not, we have joined a framework which resembles that of a colony, in which decisions will not be taken here."

He believed there were other persons who had the capability, strength and vision to be candidates for leader.

"In the most clear and calm manner, I say that whoever has a contribution to make to the MLP as leader should present his candidature for the post. And we will give the individual all the opportunity to convey his or her message. These things are done calmly. Cool and relaxed.

"On the other hand I was shocked with certain reactions when my decision was made known."

Subsequently, a substantial number of people had urged him to reconsider his decision not to run for leader, he said, adding he had mainly been moved by the fact that among them were people with whom he was often in disagreement.

In the days following his announcement, helped by the advice he was given, he then decided on the best course of action.

In his May Day message Dr Sant said the Labour Party had to work to ensure equal opportunities for everyone and the just distribution of wealth according to merit.

It was also important for the MLP to send a clear message that Malta was dedicated to peace among nations. There could be no social progress when there was war.