Former Labour deputy leader George Abela yesterday said it should be up to the party's paid-up members - and not general secretary Jason Micallef - to decide how and when the election for the party's top post is held.

Ten years after quitting the party, Dr Abela said he was prepared to contest the post of MLP leader after receiving messages of support. But he said that the voting process should have a wider representation.

Dr Abela said that society had changed and it should not just be the delegates to decide the future of the party but also the paid-up members, as he called for a report to analyse who was responsible for Labour's third successive election defeat.

But speaking on Xarabank on Friday night, MLP general secretary Jason Micallef effectively dismissed Dr Abela's suggestion, describing it as far-fetched, and saying that any changes in the election process might only take place after the leadership contest.

He also made it very clear that he will not be supporting Dr Abela's bid: "I understand why George Abela has no faith in the delegates, since they are still upset after he abandoned the party mid-way through the (1998) election." Contacted yesterday, Dr Abela said it was up to the party to reflect on his suggestion: "Jason is not the party," he told The Sunday Times.

No less than 10 candidates are expected to battle for the Labour leadership, though the majority are reluctant to confirm whether they are throwing their hat into the ring.

Kite-flying remains the order of the day ahead of Tuesday's MLP executive meeting, which is expected to set the ball rolling to select the successor of Alfred Sant who resigned after 16 years as head of the party.

Deputy leader Michael Falzon has appealed for a clean election (see interview pages 8, 9), Evarist Bartolo has warned against turning the party into a tribal minority, and Helena Dalli said Labour should think more and talk less at this stage.

Dr Sant's announcement that he would be stepping down after a third successive defeat has prompted strong lobbying among Labour's 700 delegates ahead of the contest, which is expected to take place by mid-April, even though there appears to be a lobby to push the date back.

Labour MEP Joseph Muscat, 34, considered by many as having the right qualities to be party leader, is also non-committal.

"I'm seriously contemplating it, but I'm taking my time to think and discuss the situation with my wife. I have two five-month-old daughters," he said yesterday."

Asked whether his age could pose a handicap, Dr Muscat replied: "I'm the youngest of the five MEPs, but the results speak for themselves."

Labour sources say former deputy leader George Vella, who enjoys widespread respect both with delegates and rank and file, is supporting Dr Muscat's candidature.

On the other hand, one person who is clearly backing Dr Abela is Alfred Mifsud, who is also toying with the idea of contesting the post, though he has a hurdle to clear before being considered. He has written to the party's vigilance board asking it to reconsider a warning it had issued against him in 2003 (following a series of critical articles against Dr Sant) so that he would be able to rejoin the party.

Echoing Dr Abela, Mr Mifsud also insisted that the election for the post should not be held at once but that the delegates should spend months of soul-searching to make sure the right leader is chosen. The MLP also needs to see what the floating voters want.

"Only when everyone assumes their responsibilities and a detailed report is drawn up, should we choose a leader. A lot of valid people are out of the party. I sincerely believe that myself and George Abela can pull a lot of floating voters," said Mr Mifsud, adding that the party should even investigate who made the request for an hour's extension in voting time on polling day.

Gavin Gulia, Labour's former Home Affairs spokesman, surprisingly failed to get elected this time round, overtaken by surgeon Anthony Zammit, who soared to Parliament from relative obscurity after he successfully operated on Dr Sant last December.

"I've been approached by a number of delegates... Yes I am considering contesting the post of deputy leader for party affairs," Dr Gulia said.

Helena Dalli, who was elected from two districts, said she would consider anything that is in the interest of the party.

"I don't have any ambitions but I will do whatever is in the interest of the party. I was approached for both posts... at the moment there are a lot of discussions going on. I think emotions are running high and the tendency is to think with our hearts rather than our heads. I think we should let things settle down, think more and talk less at this stage," Ms Dalli said.

While confirming that he will be running for the top job, Evarist Bartolo also said he expected the rest of the leadership to resign. He said last Friday he was convinced that had the party won, all three leaders would have claimed victory - likewise, since the party was defeated, he expects the rest of the leaders to assume their responsibility and step down.

"Despite putting my name to this contest, I believe there are other people who have the right qualities to become leaders. I think that such an important decision should be taken in a sober moment when the fever has gone down. We need to take a hard look and elect a person who has the support of people in the party but also in the country.

"We cannot elect someone who is OK within the party but who then does not enjoy much popularity with the electorate. I think there are people who have the necessary skills and charisma for the party to move forward and to make sure it is not turned into a tribal minority," said Mr Bartolo, who had faced Dr Falzon in the contest for the post of Labour deputy leader for party affairs, but lost out. Anġlu Farrugia said he was receiving a strong response from delegates to contest the election.

"I seem to be gaining more support, apart from those who voted for me in 2003," said Dr Farrugia, who had received 26 per cent of delegates' votes in the leadership race five years ago.

"The Labour Party needs an open leader, who guarantees continuity, but who can win us more credibility. We need to put our message across better. The MLP is taken seriously, but we are not liked," he said.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Chris Cardona and Charles Mangion are other names being mentioned as potential leadership contenders.