Necessary attributes of a valid leader

For a man who shares the same birthday date as the prime minister, John Attard Montalto's political future could not appear to be more different at the moment.

Following his decision to broach the leadership issue after the Labour Party's electoral rout, he has been hailed as a hero by some and a traitor by others. Criticism, like charity, begins at home. Super One TV and radio have been inundated with attacks - both personal and political.

Dr Attard Montalto can see the writing on the wall. "I have no illusions, the leadership race has already been run and won."

Fatalistic? Maybe. Realistic? Probably. You cannot help wondering why he is bothering to go through with it - this political equivalent of hara-kiri. Apart from the obvious and necessary political rhetoric, it is clear that Dr Attard Montalto does not put much faith in the "He who runs away lives to fight another day" credo.

"Courage is one essential attribute which a leader must have. I don't think I need to prove that I have courage. After nearly three weeks of denigration and attacks on a personal and political level, I think I've proved myself in that regard."

Why has anyone else not spoken up in the same way? Have they not got the guts (or words to that effect)?

Dr Attard Montalto smiles but diplomatic and lawyerly propriety kicks in. "I wouldn't put it that way. Let's just say it's very difficult to find the courage to face this kind of situation. There may be other persons within the Labour Party and outside it who possess very good attributes to become leaders but do not have the courage to take it against the establishment, or are too proud to enter a race which they know they may not win. There are people who will run only if they know they are going to win."

He is not mincing his words here.

Dr Attard Montalto, Minister of Industry in the short-lived 1996-98 Alfred Sant administration, is no political naïf. He knows he is waving goodbye to his parliamentary seat. Certainly no illusions about that. What is this in aid of then? No chance of winning the leadership race, ostracisation from the MLP, becoming a parliamentary has-been - these are just a few of the treats in store.

"I've started a process which nothing can stop - to make the MLP more transparent, more democratic, able to digest criticism and to be more credible to face the electorate in five years' time."

The next election might seem to be aeons away, but his actions are having some effect in the short-term too. He describes George Vella's decision not to contest the deputy leadership post, notwithstanding previous declarations to the contrary, as being an "honourable" one, and an example of the process which he wants to set in motion.

The fact that the party hierarchy is paying more attention to what he is saying, is another step in the right direction.

Strangely enough, he is not bitter. The character assassinations, the guaranteed ticket to political no man's land, have not had that effect on him. He is convinced it is not May 15 which is his date with destiny, but the long five-year trek to the next election. "When it is over, not only will I not feel bitter but I am determined to participate to the full in the parliamentary and political process of our country."

It is still hard to believe that Dr Attard Montalto does not even feel a hint of resentment for the persons controlling the MLP media. Manwel Cuschieri, of the famous or infamous Tajjeb Li Tkun Taf, would appear to be suspect number one, yet Dr Attard Montalto does not seem to be irked by Mr Cuschieri.

"Few people know we are friends, but in fact we are. Manwel is given editorial direction, just like the editor of any political paper."

A case of his master's voice? "I don't think so. An editor has to tailor his paper according to the parameters he is given, keeping in mind the tone and policy of the paper. Should he not do this he could end up getting the sack - as has in fact happened when an editor was fired from an English-speaking newspaper."

Rather ingenuously, or perhaps diplomatically, Dr Attard Montalto claims not to know who takes the decisions and who gives Mr Cuschieri editorial direction. The rest of us can put two and two together.

And Dr Attard Montalto only has words of praise for Jimmy Magro, who he insists has been very objective and unbiased throughout.

But that is where the MLP mutual admiration society stops. Courage is one attribute which Dr Attard Montalto maintains a leader ought to have. Credibility and consistency are also essential. He does not name names but credibility and consistency have not exactly been hallmarks of Alfred Sant's leadership.

Dr Attard Montalto cringes, recalling the doling out of weirdly uniform pro-Alfred Sant posters at the recent MLP May Day celebrations. He believes such goings on reduce the party's credibility. "If those sign-posts or posters were meant to be spontaneous expressions of support, they should never have been printed. The party should have got the message across more subtly." He thinks this was another measure which effectively rendered a fair fight for the leadership impossible.

Dr Attard Montalto has very firm views about the way the MLP has to go about putting its house in order.

"First we have to decide on the party's policy, then the leader. The leader should not dictate policy but be the instrument through which policy is actuated. Only in this way can the party avoid making constant U-turns as it has over the past 10 years with regards to local councils, VAT and the institution of the referendum." A clear clarion-call to arms against the way in which Dr Sant leads the MLP.

Although he was criticised for his ill-timing and lack of strategy in his leadership bid, Dr Attard Montalto has his own views regarding mistaken strategy. His take on the whole EU membership/partnership saga is quite simple.

Prior to the referendum, Dr Attard Montalto advocated that the MLP should advise its supporters to vote no. If this had happened, he is convinced that the no vote would have been substantially higher. With such a low margin, the prime minister would not have been able to use the referendum as a springboard for the election and he would have called it later in the year, after signing the EU accession treaty. In such a scenario, the MLP would have been elected to government.

When asked if that would not have been a hollow victory for the MLP, being elected despite the defeat of its anti-EU platform, Dr Attard Montalto retorts it would have been a far greater defeat for the PN to have won the referendum and lost the election.

Maybe.

Post-event analysis and crying over strategic slip-ups are all very well but, apart from style, where is the substance? What does Dr Attard Montalto stand for?

According to Dr Attard Montalto the MLP should be a party in which both the lower classes and the middle classes feel comfortable. Also "investors who are willing to risk money to prosper further have to have their mind at rest that the MLP in government can not only guarantee prosperity but can give incentives to enable them to invest in other countries. Creation of prosperity and its distribution, together with access to social justice, should be the basis of our principles."

That might seem rather leftist and, in fact, Dr Attard Montalto admits he is concerned that during its tenure in office in 1996, the MLP government drifted too much towards the right end of the political spectrum.

Strange concerns coming from an admirer of Tony Blair, whose politics veer away from political extremes. In some ways, Dr Attard Montalto is a man of many contradictions.

The only child of Josie Attard Montalto and Miriam née Despott, and the 13th Baron of San Pawlinu to boot, you could say he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Yet, like his father before him, he has never sought to take any advantage of his title and has always worked - he was once a teacher, a tourist guide and opened a factory when still 18.

Dr Attard Montalto attributes his business acumen to his mother, whose family was involved in the shipping industry and the operation of flour mills. His commercial instincts are well-honed. On becoming the president of St Philip's Band Club, in Zebbug, Dr Attard Montalto managed to turn it into a profit-making enterprise - an achievement he wishes to repeat within the MLP set-up.

He works hard - his law office is one of the largest on the island. He plays hard. Dr Attard Montalto loves travelling, art, antiques and eating out. Playing chess is also very big with him. It does not seem to have done much for his sense of strategy.

And fashion - he confesses he follows fashion. Seeing him wearing that grey tracksuit (and Weah-style red trainers) for that all-important Net TV interview, you would not think so.

"I got so many comments about that tracksuit. A die-hard Labourite phoned in on some programme and wondered how on earth I expected to be the leader of the opposition, or even a potential prime minister, wearing a tracksuit. A little girl who was hearing him commented: 'But it's Adidas!'."

Dr Attard Montalto can laugh at himself and at his predicament. Critics might say he lacks gravity. Though not the great white hope of the George Abela variety, he is proving himself in no small way.

"Courage, consistency and credibility - those are the three Cs which a valid leader ought to possess," Dr Attard Montalto argues.

The fourth "C" stands for charisma. And he has got it.