The Labour Party's forthcoming conference Ghall-gid tal-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin would give a clear message that whatever the circumstances, the MLP was committed to continue working for the benefit of Maltese and Gozitans, the deputy leader for party affairs, Michael Falzon said yesterday.
Addressing a news conference, he said that the Labour Party knew its roots and where it was heading. The conference, to take place on Thursday, Friday and November 9, was being held at a time of updating for the party following its electoral defeat.
He referred to the motions the conference would be discussing and said these would lead to further update within the party.
He specifically referred to the motion on the party's EU policy, which is calling for a renegotiation of the EU accession treaty by Malta. As a dynamic party, he said, Labour wanted to face the country's new reality while remaining loyal to its beliefs.
Dr Falzon said that changes were also being proposed to the statute in view of the party's new position on the EU. An additional chapter was being proposed to regulate the nominations and choice of its candidates for European Parliament elections.
The chapter would say that the party should not have more than eight candidates and these would be chosen by the general conference through a secret vote which would be managed by the party's electoral commission.
A candidate would be approved by the conference if he or she obtained more than 70 per cent of the valid votes cast. If there were more than eight candidates winning more than 70 per cent of the valid votes, the eight getting the highest number of votes would be approved.
In case the last two or three candidates obtained equal votes, an election would be held between them.
Dr Falzon said it was being proposed that prospective candidates should submit their names to the party by November 11. The applicants would have to appear before the Disciplinary and Vigilance Board on November 12 and 13.
The applications would be moved for approval by the national executive on November 14 and the final list would be approved by the extraordinary general conference on November 18.
Party general secretary Jimmy Magro said it was being proposed that on its first day the conference would appoint the administration and the party's national executive. The election would be managed by an electoral commission which was independent from the party's structures.
There would first be the election for the officials followed by that for the executive.
The conference also had to approve reports by administration officials including a financial report audited by a professional company.
The Labour Party, he said, was the only party in Malta presenting a financial report.
The conference, he said, would also be discussing the party's motion on the EU, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici's opposing motion, and another aimed at increasing the voice of young people within the party by giving them more delegates. There would also be amendments proposed to give the party's candidates a bigger representation in the executive.
He pointed out that the conference would include a good number of foreign representatives, including a delegation from the European Socialists, led by general secretary Jan Marinus Wiersma.