Change the leader

Some MLP article-writers, including Joe A. Vella (April 10), seem bent on defending Alfred Sant's tenure of the Office of Prime Minister from 1996 to 1998.

Unfortunately for these article-writers, the electorate already knows Dr Sant. He led a dreadful government by any standard, lost power in less than half a term, split his own party, squandered the talents of its best people including Lino Spiteri, ushered in a period of uncertainty, promoted a relationship with the EU that it could only have with countries it does not want to let in, rammed his own government into an open fight with Dom Mintoff whom he charged with "betrayal", called an early election against anybody's good judgment including that of his deputy leader George Abela, lost by a big majority in 1998, led a fanatical campaign against the European Union, claimed that his "partnership" won the referendum, organised a dangerous "celebration" of this "victory", then lost big again in the general election of 2003.

With a leader like that, even if it wins local polls when a third of the electorate does not vote, Labour will be very hard pressed to win even against a government that was long in office (thanks to Dr Sant himself). And when the electorate comes to choose between Dr Sant and Lawrence Gonzi, it knows whose is the steadier pair of hands to steer this country and ride the wave of EU membership.

Labour can only be a reasonable alternative if it changes its leader. What has Dr Sant actually achieved in 15 years at Labour's helm?