The way forward

It has always been my strongest conviction that for the Labour Party to move on it had to become more inclusive. When I joined the party as a parliamentary candidate way back in 1996, this was the image the party was portraying. It was this new approach which attracted to the Labour fold many new candidates, myself included, and we had great expectations that for the years to come it would be the MLP that would lead the way ahead. Along the line, however, things started to go wrong. The Mintoff saga in 1998 did much to deviate the MLP from its original strategies and attitudes. Internal tensions meant that the party leadership tended to be more inclusive and, at times, perhaps too confrontational.

Happily, however, all this seems to be changing and things are definitely taking a turn for the better. I dare say that new elements in the MLP administration, even at this very early stage, are proving their worth beyond expectations. In a very short period of time the new administration has succeeded in redirecting the party's strategy making the party appear far more inclusive, far more tolerant and moderate and, finally, in my opinion, electable.

I give full marks to the new Labour personalities such as the new secretary general, Jason Micallef, party president Stefan Zrinzo and the deputy leader for party affairs Michael Falzon. Similarly I also applaud the performance being given by the deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, Charles Mangion. They have succeeded, perhaps where others have failed, to give a strong new image to the MLP.

I can argue on a positive note that positive reforms are duly being carried out. Gone, for example, are the days when the MLP boycotted certain important programmes on PBS and other similar shows. I also note with satisfaction the way the new leadership is paying due respect and regard to the institutions that be.

The fact that, for example, the two new deputy leaders, soon after their election, paid a courtesy visit to the Archbishop is highly praiseworthy. It was also right and fitting for the new Labour administration to call on our head of state. It was also proper, if a bit audacious, for the new administration to invite the secretary general of the Nationalist Party to our party's general conference. In a democracy, political parties have to learn how to respect their adversaries since, after all, it is pluralism that is the essence of democracy.

Politicians should learn to attack the message not the messenger.

I also took note of a very important comment made by Mr Micallef. The secretary general stated that the MLP should be open to everybody and especially those former Labour parliamentarians who, for some reason or other, have felt disgruntled. He went further and said that, if such politicians do not take the initiative themselves, the MLP will be ready to, humbly, chase them itself.

I fully concur with this position and, yes, surely the time is ripe to make peace with everybody and this is the only way ahead. There are a number of ex-Labour politicians whose intelligence, experience and worth is not in doubt. It is indispensable for the MLP to entice them back into the fold.

I was also highly satisfied with the outcome of the MLP's latest general conference. In this general conference, the party delegates were faced with two opposing motions that threatened to split the party itself. In this regard, I applaud wholeheartedly former Labour Party leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici who took the plunge by proposing an amendment which would lead to a compromise. Likewise, I applaud the present Labour leader, Alfred Sant, who reached out for such a compromise. This is what the MLP needs to learn, that in politics to compromise is the far better option.

In considering all this it can safely be said that there lies a bright future for the Labour Party and for Malta in general because our country today really has an alternative government in waiting.

Dr Herrera is the MLP's spokesman on the Central Bank, Financial and Maritime Services, Malta Stock Exchange and Statistics.