In his opinion piece titled The Beginning, Not The End (May 21) Labour MEP Joseph Muscat damaged his image as representing what many fair-minded floating voters aspire to see as the long coming New Labour.
It is therefore sad and a bitter disappointment to note that while paying lip service to the MLP's endorsement for Malta to change over to the euro, he could not bring himself to admit to the conclusion of the European Commission that Malta's economy is now both credible and sustainable.
In the past, Mr Muscat made a name for himself as Alfred Sant's pet poodle, thoroughly unable to express himself freely without looking behind his back for fear of joining the ranks and fate of those who dared question the great leader.
What I would like to know is, if he also allies himself with the folly of both Wenzu Mintoff and Manwel Cuschieri in their zeal for the defunct Marxism, as made more than evident on the eve of the May 1 celebrations. Mr Cuschieri even went as far as to regale us with a rendering of the Red Flag - New Labour indeed. How can the MLP ever hope to be credible to a discerning electorate, under the leadership of Dr Sant, when his faction in the party is allowed to undermine the party's image with impunity?
Where does Mr Muscat stand with the constant anti-EU propaganda, which makes the Labour Party isolate itself even from the very PES group known to be the most ardent members of the European idea? Did he squirm with embarrassment at the booing of Toto for simply mentioning the European Union? Does he think that a 10 per cent devaluation should have preceded the joining of the euro, as his leader opined?
Mr Muscat should pluck up some courage and choose the MLP faction that he genuinely feels more comfortable with. He should freely admit that the acceptance by the Commission to pass Malta as a worthy candidate to join the euro is another outstanding success which the present administration chalked up, against the now familiar spokes in the wheels, poked with malignant gusto by his party.
Mr Muscat even fails to concede that the preparations for the introduction of the euro have been lauded and emulated by others. All he can think of is more scaremongering instead of giving re-assurance and making constructive criticism, that is if he feels safe enough within his party to do so.
The harm Dr Sant has already done to the MLP is seen as spilling over into the unsullied younger generation on which the future of the MLP depends, and ruining the chances of his party to be seen as a natural government-in-waiting as democracy requires.
I feel that Mr Muscat should shed his poodle image and assert himself within the party by telling us what he really believes in, without fear of the repercussions that others had to contend with. If he chooses the alliance he wants to be with carefully, we might yet see him win the respect of his saner colleagues and help transform his party into a credible alternative to the present administration. Unfortunately, the time is fast running out for Labour to paper over the leadership cracks, that were made self evident by a courageous Michael Falzon.