George Abela calls for a fair contest
Labour leadership hopeful George Abela today called for a clean leadership contest and said that should he not be elected, he was prepared to work with any leader as long as the contest was fair.
Dr Abela told a public activity in Qormi that the opposition he was finding for his bid was not coming from floaters or the opposition party, but the party machinery and its inner circles.
He said he had not disclosed anything new when he said that the party in 1997 while in government, had been considering a change of policy on the EU. The issue was discussed internally and informally . They had spoken on "convergence" and Dr Sant had written a position paper about it. Evarist Bartolo subsequently wrote two articles, in Maltese and English, about the subject, and The Times had commented editorially.
Dr Abela said the best thing which George Vella (the then foreign minister) could do was to say he was not involved in the talks, but he could not really contradict him, as he had tried doing. Neither could Dr Sant. Indeed, Dr Sant, who had spoken about the matter, should say the whole story, Dr Abela said.
Dr Abela spoke on his plans to make the MLP an inclusive party and the people's natural choice and insisted that the party would not be able to win elections with the same team it had now.
He said that Malta should be a committed member of the EU and said Labour should work for Malta to benefit from the EU while removing the disadvantages which membership could imply. He criticised the government for taking Malta into Partnership for Peace without consultation and criticised the government's offer for the Speaker to be nominated from among the opposition MPs, saying it was aimed at giving the government a two-seat majority in the House.
Dr Abela said the two things which had irked him most so far were (MLP general secretary) Jason Micallef's comments about him as the electoral process was being launched and Dr Sant's comments (where he backed Dr Vella over what happeend in 1997).
He said the leadership contenders were engaged in a clean campaign between them, and others should leave it that way.
He praised MLP Acting Leader Charles Mangion for his conduct.
Dr Abela said his past was a guarantee of success for the MLP's future.
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Steph Caruana
Apr 28th 2008, 10:43
In the meeting, he also explained 3 paragraphs found in his manifesto - Organization and Finance. You can read the manifesto yourself and see what are his aims for our future party leader. Now, Muscat what did he say in his meeting copying also the same words/phrases GA said that we have to accept everyone on board and that he will work with the other leaders (originality/modernism - copying his 'rivals' - doing a meeting to the 2,3 and 4 districts - come one, the scenario of Gonzi and Kate and Gonzi's ideas of referring to a younger generation, and also Brown's and Bush's campagin - why isn't he an original poltiician). He also stated that he is fresh, and a new poltician - really! you describe this new face, by being part of the strategy team during the 08's election -
Another point on JM's campaign, he said Vote Joseph get Joseph, but with last weeks news that AS is supporting JM, i can imagine that pn's slogan for the next general election would be Vote Joseph get AS!!!
I respect all your comments but, I do not respect those people who make false accusations on what really happened yesterday at Qormi. Oki, know I would like someone to compare in detail both manifestos/visions made by GA and JM - JM's new vision (the list - that offer a stronger finance)? than one can comment on who has the better political views/future for mlp. After I read both visions/manifestos, I prefer GA as our future savior and winning leader as he has a clear idea on how to manage and organize our party.
Steph Caruana
Apr 28th 2008, 10:36
Abela wants a fair contest on behalf of the mlp's media: one tv and their newspapers, and not from the times or other forms of pn's media. Why is it different the way the Net news presented GA's meeting from that of One tv?... even the amount of time spent showing GA speech says it all. I preferred seeing Net News than One Tv because One Tv only showed faces and an interview made by Krista Caruana. This is the kind of coverage that should be given to a candidate? Also, if you go to Maltastar.com, you do not even see an article on yesterday's contest, but you have to go to the times or maltarightnow to read an article concerning GA's leadership. Whilst the article on Joseph's meeting made on Friday, is still the 4th Article...what a shame.
The times of Malta missed a phrase that GA said, "I am no one's puppet, and I will never be no one's puppet" not like JM who is AS puppet. So, first, it is clear enough that he respects Mintoff opinion but he is not driven away by Mintoff's opinion on how to lead. Secondly, GA made it clear that he is in favour of the EU, but Mintoff, in his short speech, also said that the Republic is being taken away from us from the EU and PfP, so it means that Mintoff is against the EU - oh, he has something in common with AS ideals. So, it is clear enough that both of them does not have the same opinion on how to govern. Mintoff went there only to here what GA had in mind, and not to show that he is influencing GA or any other past relations. On the other hand, GA accepted Mintoff's appearance and did not throw him away/called him a traitor.
I cannot understand why are you blaming GA for defending himself on the past issues. GA does not have anyone to explain what happened in the EU meetings (GV was not present and AS will never admit that these meetings were real) but the only evidence on this matter are the newspapers and Lino Spiteri - but, no comments from Montalto.
Anthony Briffa
Apr 28th 2008, 07:36
Re Mr Laiviera's comment.
Can you please quote page and paragraph in the 1996 Manifesto of the Labour Party where these two points were presented to the electorate? All we had was, repeat, cheap electioneering and blurred statements by Dr. Sant. Even the VAT removal was included in the manifesto and then later the MLP concocted a replacement by the name of CET.
Paul Grech
Apr 27th 2008, 22:43
Following todays' coverage on a private local TV station of Dr. George Abela's activity, I asked myself:- "If Dr Abela is elected leader of the MLP and eventually Leader of the Opposositon, is he going to oppose the PN government or his own party ?"
saviour cachia
Apr 27th 2008, 21:22
If my friend Mario Sant wants to take my advice I just tell him: be clever and prudent to where you will be heading or kicking the ball on June 5. Because you might finish up joining the list of persons having an unfortunate week: putting the ball in their own net.
Very simply. Does my friend Mario Sant believes that the favourite contender and well greased by the party machine is any different from the others. According to what we read he formed part of the MLP strategists for the electoral campaign, and unfortunately our party finished on the losing side for the third time running.
If I am gullible enough to believe what I read in the nationalists media, I am not an exception, because the party machine is trying to tip the balance in favour of Muscat by contending that Dr. George Abela is being pushed down our throats by the same Gonzipn media.
Maybe only a straight answer from Muscat will rectify the matter.
Alice Murray
Apr 27th 2008, 21:16
Doesn't George Abela claim he wants the Labour Party to remove its "siege mentality".
If there's anybody suffering from grave paranoia and siege mentaility... it is certainly George Abela.
Jason Camilleri
Apr 27th 2008, 19:00
I am a bit disappointed to hear Dr. Abela say that he will be prepared to work with any leader as long as the contest was fair. Is this some kind of tactic to say that he will not cooperate if he is not elected? Will it be only fair if he is elected?
Victor Laiviera
Apr 27th 2008, 18:21
Two points in answer to Anthony Briffa:
1) In 1996, both the withdrawal from the PfP and the freezing of the EU membership application were parts of the MLP electoral manifesto - so the people knew what they were voting for.
2) The offer of the speaker's post is being rejected because of the unfair conditions attached to the offer - namely that the one chosen has to be an MLP MP - thus doubling the Government's majority - and other conditions about how and when voting should take place.
Mario Sant
Apr 27th 2008, 18:12
Dr. Abela,
as a former MFA president you sure know something about football. You know what an own goal is, don't you?
Seems like it's been Own goal week, doesn't it? First we had Riise (Liverpool), then Lucio (Bayern) .....now you?!
Can't you see that you're destroying your own slim chances with what you're saying? What exactly are you after?
Franco Farrugia
Apr 27th 2008, 17:10
To Dr G Abela: So, instead of asking Mintoff to apologise for at least two generations for the way he messed up our lives, you tow him in, in order to second your leadership bid! That's really great, it is! And you yourself advocate a new way of doing this from the Labour side.
There is no chance this Party will ever get the votes of the floaters. Not a chance.
Robert Cassar
Apr 27th 2008, 17:09
How pathetic. It seems that the only way to get some media coverage for Dr Falzon and Dr Abela is to cry fould every fortnight. Can they please come forward with a vision and let the delegates decide on the best way forward. I cant really understand what makes Dr Abela think that this is being an unfair contest. He gets publicity all the time on all the media. His event this morning was given alot of importance by this newspaper. Compare that to the one given to Josephs muscat event on Friday. No publicity at all. So please Dr Abela, stop playing the victim and show us what you are made up.show us substance.
Jason Aquilina
Apr 27th 2008, 16:39
@ Jeremy C Portelli
You hit the nail on it's haid, i agree hundred percent with what you've said. Also I Dr.Abela would like to know how can it be more fair then it is. All the contestants have the same opportunities.
wally vella-zarb
Apr 27th 2008, 16:35
Fair?
How does one define 'fair'?
Here is one definition: In the unlikely event that Dr Abela is chosen as leader, then the election will be dubbed 'Fair'.
However, when the results come out and somebody other than Dr Abela is declared the new leader, then all hell will break loose and we will be in for a flood of 'analysts' and 'consultants' crying 'Foul!' for all they are worth!
If ever Dr Abela had a slim chance of being elected leader, it seems to me that, by being publicly 'endorsed' by the maverick who voted against his own Government back in 1998, Dr Abela has undoubtedly shot himself in both feet!
Willie Grech
Apr 27th 2008, 16:29
Dr. Abela may I point out three things on what you said today. 1. Speaking on things being fair when you know that there are people involved who are doing everything to see that things do go in all fairness, is simply not fair to these people. Perhaps instead of throwing words around you should start giving us straight examples and names or people who according to you are not acting fairly. In case you don't know the MLP has its own Bord ta' Vigilanza and Kummissjoni Elettorali, or maybe you don't trust these people. 2. What is not fair is the fact that you just used Dom. Mintoff to boost your bid when you know that Mintoff is still in the hearts of many labour supporters in spite of all the things that happened in the last ten years. 3. Speaking of making the most of our EU membership shows that you are not up to date with the times or you are trying to take advantage of anything that comes along. Please be informed that thanks to our 3 MEPs we have been doing just that for the last 4 years.
Anthony Briffa
Apr 27th 2008, 16:22
In his speech this morning Dr Abela said that Malta should be a committed member of the EU. Is Dr. Abela living in cloud nine. Malta, thanks to the PN Government ,has been a committed member of the EU since the day it joined the EU. It is the MLP which should put everybody's mind at rest that it is committed to Malta's membership in the EU.
What is so upsetting that the government joined the Partnership for Peace without consulting the opposition? Did the MLP in government in 1996 consult the then PN Opposition that it was withdrawing? Same as the freezing of the application to join the E.U. All there was, was Dr. Sant's cheap electioneering about both matters. Dr. Abela was part of the MLP leadership at the time.
Why is the MLP reacting negatively to the offer of the position of speaker? After the election, a number of MLP opinionists claimed that this and the position of President should be offered to the MLP by virtue that it lost the election by 1580 votes. Did Mintoff offer any positions to the PN in 1981 when he took over the government with a minority of votes?
Jeremy C Portelli
Apr 27th 2008, 14:55
Please stop playing the victim and suggest how the contest can be fairer then.