MLP leadership election open to all paid up members

@ Mr. Vella: Of course, you are right in pointing out that it was Dr. Abela who proposed that leadership elections in the MLP should be open to paid-up members but it is likewise true that it was snatched up by the pro-PN columnists, bloggers and posters.

I wonder what would have happened had the same suggestion been put forward in the run up to the leadership election within the PN...

Where party democracy is concerned, very few parties can attest there to be 'total' democracy. Some form of control or restrictions are always in place to ensure not just that the vote is indeed clean but that the candidates meet certain criteria of eligibility.

In this case, for example, the PN too restricts leadership bids for the decision of the Kunsill Generali and goes even further than that by ensuring that candidates for posts have to be cleared by the Party's executive.

Indeed, even the contest for the post of Secretary-General is not open for all delegates but is restricted to the members of the Executive Committee...

So, please, let's all be fair and not try and preach democracy to each other: Both parties have their internal woes to sort out.

The idea of having all the "Tesserati" vote in the MLP leadership race did not come out ot the PN, it was George Abela that commented to that effect.

Let's get the fact straight.

As I posted elsewhere in this site, I have strong reservations about having a leadership contender who is not an elected MP and who may be clearly renouncing to a very lucrative source of income for his family.

I would also like to act another couple of points:

The first is that we never heard such zealous suggestions to have 'tesserati' (i.e. paid up members) voting for a leader: I never heard this when Dr. Fenech Adami or, more recently, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi were elected by the Kunsill Generali of the PN.

The second point which should be considered is that what really is interesting - in any contest of this nature, wherever it is held - is the final outcome produced in terms of how well the Leader and Deputy Leaders work together.

I would personally favour - to use the American word - the 'ticket' whereby delegates would be presented with a team to vote for rather than voting for each post. It would really be ironic to have good people elected to the various posts which, however, do not click together!

Human nature being what it is, my sympathies go out to any MLP empoyee who may feel uncertain regarding his future as a result of the change in administration and leadership of the Party: I think that good sense and fairness shall prevail in ensuring that the workers are reassured of their position but one must accept that people who may have had a role in the political management of the Party - at whichever level - or who may, today, be embroiled in moves to favour one candidate over another, be made aware of the fact that their position as party employees would be untenable in a future Labour Party.

I am just curious...how does a few years experience in the European Parliament compete with many more years of experience in Malta's Parliament?

A few years of being in the European Parliament in my opinion is not at all enough experience to become the future prime minister of Malta. That being said, I believe Joseph Muscat does have the potential to be a good leader, but is far too inexperienced to be a candidate for prime minister in the future election. Just my opinion.
Deputy Leader sounds like a more appropriate position for Joseph Muscat.

I just have a concern that some of the MPs within the party think they will be able to manipulate Joseph Muscat because of his lack of experience.

I would prefer to see either Michael Falzon or George Abela gain the position of Leader of the MLP. They are both very experienced and strong leaders which is what Labour really needs! Labour needs to change and head in a stronger more positive direction.

Anyway, I believe Joseph Muscat has the potential but lacks the experience. Remember the new Leader of Labour will be the possible new leader of the country (in the future) which is one heavy job requiring enormouse responsibility and experience.

Joseph Muscat has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004. I am sure that such experience is much richer than to that of a local MP who spent 10 or 15 years serving in the local Parliament. The European Parliament is professional while the local parliament is unfortunately very amateurish. I am sure that Dr Abela will back Dr. Joseph Muscat after the 5th of June. He will be one if his mentors

With this move Labour again showed how democratic he is, despite all the accusations launched by many opponents.
I think Gorg Abela is playing the martyr as he wants to get sympathy votes, or else he just want to win and that's it. If this is the attitude (either win or no Labour anymore) I am sorry Dr. Abela, your place is not there, though I think you could have contributed very much in the Labour party. I hope the right person is elected and all the others should pull the same rope and make MLP the best party ever.

Simon Zammit - sorry your stroy cant become true. number 1: Joseph Muscat is onlu contesting the post of leader, not deputy leader. number 2: George Abela is 60 years old, and thus too old to become leader.

Joseph Muscat is the ideal leader and future prime minister of Malta.

At least finally Dr Abela can contest!.I fully agree with the intresting article published yesterday written by Lino Spiteri.With Dr George Abela as leader and Dr Joseph Muscat as deputy leader,MLP have a very good chance to win the coming election!.Its good for Dr Muscat to gain experience from people like gorg Abela so that in less than 10 years time Joseph can be our leader!>

The article is clear - Putting it simply ....All card paying 'tesserati' are eligible to contest for leader or any other post.
As for the voting of 'tesserati' , an amendment clause must be entrenched in the party statute after approval by the delegates during an extraordinary general conference.
This is how it works, or should work at least.

One cannot change the rules half way. The date for the election has been confirmed and so did the potential candidates. SO the Party delegates will vote. The same system was used when Gonzi was elected PN Leader. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gender. George Abela should confirm officially his candidacy and like all the other potential candidates promise that he will toe the party line and help the elected leader win the next general electionshould he fail to be elected.

The logistical problems are said to exist regarding whether members can also vote for the leadership not whether members can contest for the leadership.

In any case, I do hope the best man or woman wins. If George Abela truly wants to submit his candidacy...then what is he waiting for? Go for it...explain your vision and please stop playing the constant martyr.

The door is open.

@ Alfred Cassar - You've misunderstood the article (or the article is not written clearly enough). Up to this point it is still the delegates who will be choosing the leader. It just says that a non-delegate can CONTEST (not vote). the decision on whether it will be logistically possible for all members to vote is still to be taken...

Good Luck to George Abela and all contestants

Very well done, considering that the General Secretary Jason Micallef said earlier that this was logistically impossible.

So Dr. George Abela will be able to compete for the post of Leader of the Malta Labour Party after all. Just hope the best man wins. One man can only win....hope the others will still remain within the Party and give a helping hand to the elected leader. The next step is to ensure that all paid members are let to vote for the post of leader.