New MLP officials woo grassroots, media

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, the newly elected president of the Labour Party, said it was a tough struggle to unseat outgoing president Manwel Cuschieri.

"Mr Cuschieri had been in the limelight for many years and I was the outsider.

"I have great trust in the newly elected officials of the national executive which is a young team representing an influx of new blood," he said.

Asked whether the fact that Mr Cuschieri, the only other candidate, polled 426 votes while he managed to get 434, meaning a margin of only eight votes represented two strong blocs within the party, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said that "the difference could mean many things".

"I have heard so many interpretations about the meaning behind this vote. The vote basically means that the majority of delegates wanted a change.

"The change is in the way the Labour Party will function and project itself. Mr Cuschieri and myself represent two different philosophies about how the party ought to be managed," Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said.

Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi, 30, of Naxxar joined the MLP youth section in 1995. He graduated in law in 1999, is a partner in a law firm and his wife Silvana is a police inspector. They are expecting their first baby in February.

"I will be wearing two hats starting with a 'p'- that of president and the other of papà- which is not a bad start."

He highlighted the fact that one of his priorities was to get the administration of the MLP closer to the grassroots.

"The grassroots need to feel that their views are being given the weight they deserve," he said.

Jason Micallef, 34, the newly-elected party general secretary, who describes himself as a media person, is a television producer with the state broadcasting station, Public Broadcasting Services Ltd.

Mr Micallef, married and father of a seven-year-old child, comes from a traditional Labour family in Mosta. His uncle, Freddie Micallef, is an MLP stalwart and former minister.

His party connections were cemented through his marriage to Josie, daughter of former Labour MP George Gatt.

Mr Micallef, who polled 271 of the 861 valid votes, said the fact that he had to vie with six other candidates for the post - the outgoing general secretary, Jimmy Magro did not contest but will be contesting the European parliament election in June - resulted in a fragmentation of votes.

Asked how he intended to go about his job, Mr Micallef argued that the party had made the fundamental mistake of antagonising the media.

"I want the party to work with the media and not fight it. In the three years prior to the last general election, the MLP changed its slogan several times, each time having to explain the new slogan with resultant confusion in people's minds.

"My priorities include the setting up of an information secretariat and a press office. The performance of any organisation can only be perfected if it has the backing of the media."

The post of general secretary is the only salaried position among the posts filled during the party's general conference on Thursday, which means that Mr Micallef will have to give up his job at PBS.

Asked how much elbow room he would be allowed to go ahead with his plan to bring the media on the side of the party, Mr Micallef said his campaign was based on such a theme. He added he had complete trust in the rest of the national executive officials and that he would get their backing.

The rest of the new members of the national executive of the MLP are: Louis Gatt, vice-president; Tommy Dimech, finance secretary; Ray Azzopardi, public relations secretary; Joe Mifsud, international secretary and Aleks Farrugia, education secretary.