Labour's leadership contest is gathering steam with deputy leader Michael Falzon yesterday officially announcing his decision to contest, promising to be open to criticism and to do his utmost to remove "the perception" of factions within the party.
Addressing a news conference, Dr Falzon said he wanted to be a leader with an open door policy who united people.
Flanked by his wife Anna and children Martina and Nathaniel, against a backdrop election slogan 'With experience and loyalty, together towards success', Dr Falzon said that the party's future had to be "built by Labourites together, then shared with all the Maltese and Gozitans".
"My personal aspiration and the party's will be the implementation of Labour's project - that there should be a Labour Government after the next general election and the implementation of an innovative policy leading to new successes for the country," he said.
The 47-year-old lawyer officially announced he would be contesting Labour's top post five days after MEP Joseph Muscat. The election follows the resignation of Alfred Sant after his party's electoral defeat on March 8.
Dr Falzon stressed he had always been loyal to the party even when he openly disagreed with certain directions taken by the leadership, such as the premature 1998 election.
He spoke of his commitment and pledged to translate his loyalty from the party to the country. He cited as an example the last general election, when he remained at the counting hall together with the party's electoral staff until the very end, conceding defeat once the result was obvious so as not to leave the country on tenterhooks for a whole night.
He said he had several proposals in mind but he did not want to have a ready-made plan, preferring instead to map out a programme with a Labour team which would be open to any valid contribution.
"If I lead the party in the coming years, I will see that it will fully serve its Labour, Maltese and European vocation."
Dr Falzon - who has been actively involved in the party since 1992, holding different positions including election manager and international secretary - said the MLP had to attract the country's best minds, academics, forward-looking people and visionaries.
"I am submitting my name to be the party's leader, its servant, and never and under no circumstances do I want the party to serve any individual or group... I sincerely believe that Labour in government can create as much wealth as the PN is creating and distribute it better."
He said: "We cannot remain a second place party even if the difference is small. There is no second place in politics; you either make it or you don't. And we have to make it - together. This is something we have to work for."
Dr Falzon said he was prepared to play by any rules dictated by the party for the June 5 election, when asked whether he agreed with George Abela's proposal that all the party's members, and not just delegates, should vote for the leader.
Dr Falzon said he would not want any other position within the party if he fails to win the post, but would continue to serve his constituents and the country in Parliament.
Asked whether he assumed part of the responsibility for his party's defeat in the last election, he said he had no problem doing so and added: "I was part of the leadership. I am not sorry that I was... I worked as part of that leadership, and gave all I could."