MLP: Unity in diversity

Five persons will so far be contesting the vacant position of leader of the Malta Labour Party. This is a delicate period for our party, with every candidate trying to gain the biggest support by June 5. At the moment we are not yet sure who is going to take part in the voting. Will it be the delegates exclusively or will they be joined by paid-up members? (I am among the latter group).

Whoever votes must look well beyond June 5 and once our new leader is selected, I hope he will not sideline any of the other contestants. There should be an open invitation to them all to discuss privately with him what role they could take in the party to remedy the shortcomings that resulted in the last general election result.

The report being prepared by a special group appointed by the MLP national executive should be a guide for all so that certain mistakes are not repeated.

Every contender for the position, if he/she is ready to work as a team, should be given a specific responsibility, and they should serve as a think-tank for the party, before any proposals to the national executive or parliamentary group are forwarded for consideration.

We can only have one leader, but all the contenders for the post are valid and every effort should be sought to seek unity in diversity. This atmosphere should fill the corridors of the MLP headquarters, if we are humble and ready to learn from the past. Our slogan should be: Unity in diversity for a Labour government in 2013.

Maybe this inner group should also include the deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, the deputy leader for party affairs, the president and the secretary general of the party. Thus in theory one should be the leader, but in practice all the other mentioned persons should be the direct consultants to formulate the strategy for the coming five years.

Unity in diversity should be the value guiding the leader in his relations with the national executive and parliamentary group. As all the contenders are vying for the position of leader in the best interest of the party, I do not expect there should be any problems. Or will there be? For now there is a lot of talk of solidarity and common interest but once the contest is over, will we return to the factions and frictions that had set the party back many years?