Muscat sets out his vision for MLP leadership
In an obvious reference to newspaper reports that he had set conditions on who the deputy leaders should be, should he be elected leader, Dr Muscat said:
"I will submit my nomination without any conditions. Should I be elected, I am ready to work with any persons selected by the Labour Party as deputy leaders and for the other posts."
In his statement, Dr Muscat said Malta needed major environmental, social and economic reform so that it could reach the standards of its partners in the EU.
A changed, strengthened and positive Labour Party was the best way how these reforms could be brought about, bringing together all sectors of society including employees and employers, businesses, young people and intellectuals, he said.
For this to be brought about, a strong and inclusive movement needed to be created. This had to be a movement which went beyond the MLP and included all those who held innovative ideas and initiatives which would create wealth .
Dr Muscat said that in order for the MLP to build such a movement around it, it needed to strengthen itself from within. It also needed to have a leader who could earn the respect not only of the party's core supporters but also those who had drifted away and those who had never been part of it.
"I believe I can be the person to bring together all these elements so that we can have a Labour government by 2013 which can then realise the aspirations of our people and our country. I believe I can set a vision and dedicate the energy so that in 60 months' time we can be chosen by the people to lead this country."
Dr Muscat placed young people as the foundations for this project, saying that in the past few years the MLP had failed to draw enough support from this sector of the population.
"I want to show my fellow young people that with the MLP and the movement which we will create, they can be part of the Winning Generation," he said.
Therefore, Dr Muscat said, after having consulted his family and several other persons, he had decided to submit his nomination for party leader once nominations open.
(An interview with Dr Muscat was carried in The Sunday Times yesterday)
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Anthony Mizzi
Aug 27th 2009, 11:44
Joseph Muscat has always put Malta's interests first and his track record proves it.
He is the way forward and the results of the last MEP elections proves it.
Wish im every success for the future as with his successes Malta and the Maltese are surely to benefit.
J Zammit
Mar 27th 2008, 17:24
Joseph Muscat campaigned against EU membership for 11 long years as an MLP journalist between 1992 and 2003. Joseph Muscat voted No in the Referendum of the 8th March 2003. Joseph Muscat voted Labour, ie against EU membership, in the general election of the 12th April 2003.
It was not thanks to him that we are now in the EU but thanks to each and every one of us 143,094 who voted Yes and each and every one of us 146,172 who voted PN in 2003.
And now, anti-EU in thought, word and deed Joseph Muscat comes along and poses as pro-EU. Rich (to say the least) and arrogant (to put it bluntly)!
John Simpson
Mar 26th 2008, 23:22
Robert Galea, arrogance comes from people who lie and are corrupt
Joe Martinelli
Mar 26th 2008, 22:49
Is this the same Joseph Muscat who was dead set against joining the EU back prior to the referendum?
Is this the same man who, after his party lost and we joined the EU was up and front contesting and being elected as an MEP ?
Is this the same person who during the election never made one comment against Dr. Sant's intention of re-negotiating the EU accession treaty?
Is this the same person who now claims to have already prepared a 15 year plan for our country's future?
Is this the same guy who wants to lead the MLP ?
Is this the same Joseph Muscat who wants to become Prime Minister within 5 years?
Is this the best the MLP can do?
Is this yet another instalment in an ever ending farce?
Give us all a break!!
CARMEN FINO
Mar 26th 2008, 11:32
Though he had made a name for himself in Europe and he can be an MLP Leader in future but please not at present as he is very young with no experience in local politics at all and the position of a leader of a party should have at least that .What about Michael Falzon ,George Abela and Marie Louise Colerio?
paul spiteri
Mar 25th 2008, 16:20
I will not comment on whom I prefer or not, I am not part of MLP (actually I do not support MLP) . My only wish is that MLP delegates (or whoever will eventually vote) will make a wise choice. What is bothering me at the moment is that a good number of comments were directed mainly to win the election. I strongly believe that the role of a political party is to present the electorate with a program , a clear vision of policies that will create prosperity . Each party can offer this vision in its own thinking. It will be up to the people voting to choose what fit to them. MLP will do the mistake to choose a leader just to guarantee a win next general election. Off course it will be the ultimate result, but please remember that the choice to elect a party in government will remain a prerogative of the Maltese voters, and not MLP, PN or just because one party has been there for too long. It should depend on the vision that each party presents to teh voters. So please when choose the MLP Leader think about that.
Sam Abela
Mar 25th 2008, 14:47
I think it would have been wiser if Dr Joseph Muscat was elected DEPUTY LEADER, while Dr George Abela was elected LEADER of MLP.
This would be a winning-duo as both will attract the grassroots, the disgruntled labour supporters and the floaters under one roof.
James Formosa
Mar 25th 2008, 11:57
The nationalist party cannot keep winning election after election even if they remain 'the better of both evils' or the 'devil we know'.
Therefore the choice of the MLP leader is important to all of us. Let us pray that the MLP chose a worthy man or woman and that in the next election we can all be a bit more relaxed as we won't be running the risk that our country is run by half-wits (with all due respect). Hopefully someone like G. Abela, not J.Muscat (as he needs to wait another 10 years). Then again its not only the leader that needs changing......
Joe Galea
Mar 25th 2008, 09:08
Dear Mr,. Gauci Cunnigham,
Yes GonziPN backed JPO, since Joe Saliba, Gordon Pisani and co, followed him in his staged acts and melodrama shows.
I think the only arroganc eis coming from your way since you think that only PN apologists have the only right to speak. Remember that since GonziPN has been tinged with bad rubbish for a long time now, you don't accept the truth that you support a decadent Government.
Take a holiday so you can reflect and open and clear your mind from the GonziPN contamination.
fleur hili
Mar 25th 2008, 08:23
Yes C. Busuttil and E.Grima...........and pig will fly!!!!!!
David Gatt
Mar 25th 2008, 01:50
Robert Galea - you say you're not a die hard nationalist, but your own words are such a faithful copy of what one hears on net tv. If you are already arguing against Mr. Muscat after his great track record and insist in wanting George Abela as MLP leader you are clearly a person who hates Labour, nothing else.
Mario Zammit - at least you're honest and thus much different than some blue dna members of parliament.
Alexander Morana
Mar 24th 2008, 20:43
A fresh new face and young, Dr. Muscat fits the bill for a potential candidate for the leadership of the MLP. Kudos to him, he is going to have guts and courage to put forward what radical changes he will put forth within the Party and for the future of Malta.
Martin Brincat
Mar 24th 2008, 20:35
About Joseph Muscat submitting his nomination for the leadership of the MLP its a very interesting nominee. I like it, may others of his vision have the courage to go for the contest.
About Mr.Robert Galea's Comment I'd like to tell him that why Dr. George Abela didn't waited for the change, without doing so harm to Dr. Alfred Sant and the MLP in these last 5 years.
Pauline Barbara
Mar 24th 2008, 20:27
Let me assure everyone who bothers getting on to this site, that whoever Labour choose as leader will not be good enough for the PN supporters.
I'm starting to think that maybe they would prefer the PN party to choose the MLP leader. But hang on a minute, could that be what PN are actually doing with their superior opinion of who should or who shouldn't be MLP leader. Does anyone remember the media, i.e. Xarabank and Bondi + doing any programmes pre Gonzi being chosen as PN leader? Ofcourse not.
Whoever is elected as MLP leader, one thing we can be sure of and that is PN will still try to tarnish him with the same brush used against Sant and will do everything to link him to Sant. The proof of this is some of the comments I've read on this site like 'He (Dr.Muscat) was part of MLP and therefore was in favour of such and such a policy'. The fact is maybe he was and maybe he wasn't. If PN supporters think that those involoved within the PN party agree with everything that is proposed, I'm afraid you are living in a different world.
If Mr. Muscat is to be leader of the MLP, I will support him and I believe he has the ability to run the party, and to all PN supporters, I don't like Gonzi (I think he's a wolf in sheep's clothing) but my opinon of him had no bearing on his being chosen as your leader, so I assure you that yours won't matter either when it comes to choosing the MLP leader.
M. Bugeja
Mar 24th 2008, 19:43
For Mr. Robert Galea -
Because one expresses confidence that he can win the election, it does not translate to arrogance. Any politician that runs for political office does so because he/she believes that they are electable. It stops there. No one says "I don't believe I can't get elected, but I'm going to try". This is politics, you have to have a bit of self confidence.
As for the reception class and Mr. Muscat's stance on the matter - he was an MEP representing the entire country, not just a simple MP representing his constituents in a particular district. His silence doesn't necessarily translate to acceptance or even rejection.
Give the man a chance before you start firing your cannons at him. There will be plenty time for that after should he be elected and propose solutions which are not to your liking.
Personally, I think he's young, charismatic, and has the skills necessary to move the MLP forward.
Mario Zammit
Mar 24th 2008, 19:14
I thank Mr. Albert Gauci Cunningham for answering Mr. Joe Galea 'on my behalf'. Yes Mr. Gauci Cunningham said it all. There is nothing else that I can add.
With regards to Mr. David Gatt's comment , I thank this kind gentleman for his nice compliment to label me as a "Die Hard Nationalist". Yes such a name makes me feel proud. Thanks Mr. Gatt for reminding me that I have a Blue DNA!
Robert Galea
Mar 24th 2008, 18:37
Mr. Gatt, I am not a die hard nationalist. I just think that if Jason gives George Abela a chance, Labour will truly get a "bidu gdid". I sincerely do not think that Dr. Muscat is the man for the job. I hope Labour does not remain hard-headed and will accept Labourites who did not agree with Dr. Sant's policies back into the party with open arms. One of the first steps MLP must take to start fresh, is to accept criticism within the party and not shun it and expel whoever thinks different. i.e. GET RID OF JASON!
Luke Gatt
Mar 24th 2008, 17:16
I have doubts, this man is still bringing up his family he still has young children to bring up so i do not think it is fair on his children to contest the leadership of the mlp. Obviously this is his to decide and not mine
Robert Galea
Mar 24th 2008, 17:04
Ah yes, it is good to see new faces but however one must see past them and get to the politics they are offering.
From what I can see Dr. Muscat has no intention of changing the labour mentality. In his interview with the Times he is already speaking as if he has won an election which is to take place 5 years from now! The arrogance remains, the same arrogance that cost the labour party this election. They were so sure that they had won that they didn't even bother presenting an electoral program and instead whipped up a manifest full of misprints, computer malfunctions and proposals had already been implemented.
It also seems that Dr. Muscat lives in the same world in which Dr. Sant blissfully lived out his politcal career. He fails to acknowledge the accomplishments and progresses that Dr. Fenech Adami and Dr. Gonzi worked for, as if they were governing a Malta in parallel universe far far away.
This is the same tune that Dr. Muscat has adopted from Dr. Sant, and if he intends to lead MLP with this attitude than I advise Dr. Muscat that he better not count his chickens before they hatch!
C Busuttil
Mar 24th 2008, 16:01
Finally an option, Dr.Muscat be there for ALL of us
G.tanti
Mar 24th 2008, 15:55
I believe MLP and Malta both need a leader like Joseph Muscat. MLP needs to attract young people and students to the party and i think that Joseph will manage to do that. He is young and charismatic which i believe will make him a great leader and also attract floaters.
F Spiteri
Mar 24th 2008, 15:48
What tune are you referring to Mr Robert Galea?? Well ... I guess it is about time that coures regarding critical thinking skills would be encouraged to train people to listen & evaluate the various tunes being available rather than being influenced by the biased media, reporting thigs from "sources"(???). This would lead to less comments like that of Mr Galea, hopefully.
David Gatt
Mar 24th 2008, 15:43
I've always wished for Mr Muscat to be elected leader and I really hope he does. He's a young man with a lot of energy and has the potential to do very well.
I really wish Die Hard Nationalists like Robert Galea and Mario Zammit below, who want the PN never to lose at all costs, start to grow up a bit. We need to think in our country's interest.
Albert gauci Cunningham
Mar 24th 2008, 15:23
Dear Joe galea where and when did gonzi back JPO?
Where and when did gonzi say that JPO was totally innocent?
Where and when did gonzi say that JPO will not be interrogated because he's innocent?
What did Gonzi do before Dr.sant?
Who asked Joe falzon auditor of MEPA for a report and published it profusely?
..............this is zero tollerance in practice.....but wait....... who cares 'bout tollerance anyway the important thing is that we find someone to point our fingers at so that we can say"....you see it's not our fault we lost.....it's because of that lier Gonzi....."
.....may whoever leads the MLP liberate it from this arrogance and paranoia of "eveybody's wrong but i the almighty labourite am always right"..........if you think I'm exagerating i invite you to watch xarabank again .......but wait......xarabank is part of a nationalist web of lies and evil isn't it???..............oh do buy a ticket and go on a holiday and give us a long break!!!!!!
E.Grima
Mar 24th 2008, 15:06
I hope the delegates vote wisely and for the good of the labour party. Mr. Jason Micallef was what brought us so close, Mr. Muscat will bring us further. I hope the two will work together to victory.
Joe Galea
Mar 24th 2008, 14:36
Mario Zammit, Reasoning your way Gonzi is the same as JPO as he backed him during the campaign. Was Gonzi afraid of upsetting the GonziPN campaign?
Your new scaremongering campaign won't work with Joseph Muscat as he is his own man and not a puppet of anyone, like Gonzi was of EFA.
Dear Robert Galea, I think you are referring to this government with a difference. Your writing should read "Same old tune, same old faces".
Joe Agius
Mar 24th 2008, 14:27
Joseph is the man to lead us for the future. The MLP needs a young, experiences, charismatic and open minded leader who understands the grass roots and is already popular, self made man.
The fact that contrary to what has been written in sections of the press, that he set no conditions, has increased his chances of leading the Party.
M. Brincat
Mar 24th 2008, 14:14
Ah Mr. Robert Galea! Finally you're realising that in politics, what counts most is not the tunes, but the faces!
Wasn't it Dr. Gonzi's face that we saw so frequently on the billboards up to 3 weeks ago?
m.farrugia
Mar 24th 2008, 14:07
dear mr.harper if you're living in dark old ages speak for yourself cos i'm not. Malta made a great improvement thanks to the nationalist government
Robert Galea
Mar 24th 2008, 13:40
Same old tune, different face.
Martin Cutajar
Mar 24th 2008, 13:28
I wish the very best to Mr. Joseph Muscat, and hope he is the new leader of the Labour Party. With his leadership I think voters will have a choice for the coming election, an option that for the past 3 elections, in my opinion wasn't present.
J Cardona
Mar 24th 2008, 12:51
I see great potential in Dr. Muscat to actually realise the dreams of many Maltese, and to unite a nation. He has already shown that he can work with everyone during the last four years as MEP, as he has served all and equally. Let's hope he is given the space required to perform his task ahead.
Nicholas Warren
Mar 24th 2008, 12:50
Paul... what dark ages are we living in - we are a modern 21st century country, with world rankings in finance and health which our European neighbours envy.... On another note, I hope that whoever is chosen to lead the MLP will be sensible, looking for the common good of the country and of ALL its people not part of it and that they really can provide us with a party in govt which can do good and not have no vision or future!!
Mario Zammit
Mar 24th 2008, 12:45
Mr. Muscat was part of the MLP team who have just lost the last elections. I presume he had a say in the drawing up of the MLP promises of introducing a 'reception class' and to reopen discussions on agreements signed with the EU. It is interesting to note that he never said a word against these two issues pushed forward by his then leader Dr. Alfred Sant. One assumes that he was therefore in favour. Therefore one asks Mr. Muscat, if elected leader would he continue to push forward these issues? And if he would scrap them why then he never said a word against them during the electoral campaign? Was he afraid of upsetting his leader?
Paul Savona
Mar 24th 2008, 12:35
I read this article and I get a positive feeling. This is the kind of thinking that both parties need.
If he is the leader of the opposition and his credo is as is described in this article, MLP really will have a running chance in five years time.
If this was the position of the MLP this time around, they would have won.
I look forward to having a real alternative to compare with when deciding to whom to give my vote to.
Paul Harper
Mar 24th 2008, 11:11
Malta needs some like Dr Joseph Muscat, young and energetic and knows what he is talking about. Malta needs to move to the 21st century not living in dark old ages.