More than just a leader

Now that the race for leader of the Labour Party is in full swing and we delegates have heard more or less what the candidates stand for, one can start to form an opinion. I have to admit that all the candidates have good qualities and can offer something. But not all, I feel, have what it takes to be considered as 'valid' for the job.

This election is not just about electing a Labour leader. It is more than that. Therefore it is of paramount importance that the MLP general conference choose the person whom, for the next five years and beyond, the electorate can see a potential prime minister and feel comfortable about as the leader of a strong Labour government.

As we have recently seen, people do not change government just because it has been there for ages. A party should not believe it can win by default. Elections are there to be won, not lost. If that does not become ingrained in Labour's attitude, the party will simply continue to lose until the other party takes the same attitude - which it has never done.

In the coming months the Labour Party must offer new solutions for both old and new problems. It is not a question of a 'new' or 'old' Labour but of fresh minds with fresh, relevant ideas.

The person chosen needs to meet the ambitions of the grass roots as well as appeal to floating voters. I see in Joseph Muscat the potential leader who can reflect such merits. I do not believe we can lead the Labour Party to power just by relying on Dr Muscat's charisma and by attracting others who have hitherto felt uncomfortable in even considering what Labour offered. We can aspire to offer a decent government to this country only if we can build a nationwide progressive and moderate coalition which eventually puts forward concrete proposals to address the country's pressing needs. The Labour Party, with Dr Muscat as its leader, would be the natural catalyst for this coalition to happen.

Dr Muscat has already pledged that if elected party leader he would also spend his first two years implementing the necessary party changes. It is only through such a process of reorganisation and, yes, change, that Labour can start looking positively ahead.

In these next few years of Opposition we ought to take the opportunity to do our homework well. It is only by convincing ourselves first that we can convince others that we can offer a better deal. As these five years should enable Dr Muscat to re-mould the party's image and make it attractive again, it is up to the whole party to choose him as our prime minister in waiting. I look forward to that choice in five years' time or less.