Abela says he was asked to withdraw nomination

Quote: "..."an influential person" within the party had attempted to persuade him to withdraw his nomination and in return the party would nominate him as President of Malta."

Who was it? Santa Claus? Or was it, perhaps, the Tooth Fairy?

Pull the other one, George! You're watching too much Xarabank. :-)

Dr Abela, the 60 year old politician has just confirmed once again that he is enjoying playing the underdog. He tells us that the party machine is afraid of him. That he is meeting several stumbling blocks in his leadership race and describes all this as if there is a jihad against him.Now he tells us that a Tom, Dick or Harry has asked him to withdraw his nomination. Please Dr Abela, give us a break. Is int it a pathetic picture of Dr Abela and Dr Falzon together self pitying each other. The Labour Party needs a Leader. Where are his leadership skills? They speak about the Party machine backing a particular candidate for the leadership race. Who is the Party machine? the Administration? let me tell you about the administration. Dr zrinzo azzopardi is well known for his friendship and loyalty to Dr Falzon. So is the vice president, Louis Gatt. In fact he endorsed Dr Falzon in his first press conference and is accompanying him in the meetings with the Party delegates and there is nothing wrong in it. Dr Wenzu Mintoff is known for being close to Evarist Bartolo and so is the International Secretary, Dr Joe Mifsud. Ray Azzopardi and Tommy Dimech are not part of the game. They have no say at all. So what's remaining is Jason Micallef. Is Jason Micallef the Party machine? the machine is run single handedly?God bless! If it was so, Jason Micallef can only harm the above mentioned leadership candidate because he almost lost all popularity with the party delegates. So please explain to me which machine is pushing who? And please don't tell me the machine is Dr Sant. He is the past and the party delegates know very well that it is thanks to him that the Labour Party lost this general election once again. It is very easy to play the underdog. But it ain't easy showing your leadership skills.

I am writing to express my delight at the fact that Joseph Muscat is standing for Leader of our Party and to pledge my wholehearted support to him and his campaign, I share so many of his values and am delighted someone is standing with whom people like myself can identify.

Last Friday Mr Muscat gave his speech, and by the end of it I was proud to be a Labour Party supporter. I am a university student and during the electoral campaign I felt like the odd one out on the university campus. Last friday his speech was invigorating, filled with purpose and a sense of direction towards the future that I can only pray the elderly party faithful or the MPs voting will not be afraid to embrace.

Some people here are missing the wood for the trees. Let me explain. For the Labour Party to win the 2013 election must be a means to an end and not the end in itself. George Abela is Gonzi's clone. Conservatism will rule once again. So people will once again decide to go for Gonzi 1, the real one and not some other clone of his. Labour must win the coming general election to implement its social democratic, liberterian policies. George Abela can never implement such policies because he is a conservative.

Can't wait for the day to see a woman head the MLP and become the first female prime minister! ....another first for the party - first woman MP, first woman president, first to adopt vote or women, etc. Marie Louise is honest, poses good arguments, is ethically correct, promotes love of a woman and discipline of a politician, was never in any great polemic, totally clean, understanding, is at the right age, very presentable and smart, etc, etc, etc. BUT the least mentioned. WHY? Why doesn't everybody refrain from contesting and support her? Let's give everybody a surprise. Good luck Marie Louise!

I doubt whether Abela and Muscat together can really unite the party. Abela is carrying Mintoff on his shoulders now. Muscat is clearly being backed by Sant and Jason and George Vella. Hardly harbringers of change. So the MLP needs candidates that can really unite the various factions together. Michael Falzon immediately comes to my mind. Even Marie Louise Coleiro fits this description.

Why do we have to choose from Abela and Muscat? Is it not better to have both?
The experience of Abela and the youth of Muscat. That would surely unite the party and there will be no sore losers.

After all Abela has declared that he will only be staying as leader for ten years. Well that would take Muscat to 43 - ideal age to be PM.
I find find it hard to believe that Muscat is not being pushed into this situation. Its like being advised to get married at age 14 - there is more to life that one would be missing. I mean does Muscat envisage himself as Labour party leader for the next 30 years? From a personal point of view what is he going to do with rest of his life say when he is 50 - become president?

Quote: "He indicated that, if he were elected, he would not remain party leader for more than 10 years."

Although 10 years seem a long time, Dr. Abela would only face 1 (one) General Election at the helm of the MLP, should he manage to win the MLP leadership race this June.