More Labourites than Nationalists in Malta - Evarist Bartolo

There are more Labourites than Nationalists in Malta because at the last election the PN received about 4,000 votes from Maltese who lived abroad and who have now left the island, MLP leadership aspirant Evarist Bartolo has contended.

Yet, the government was acting in an arrogant manner as if it enjoyed everyone's support even though half the population did not vote for it, Mr Bartolo said, citing the country's membership of the Partnership for Peace as an example.

He was speaking at a meeting with Labour delegates on Wednesday. At the last election, the PN scraped through by a mere 1,500 votes, winning a one-seat majority in Parliament.

Mr Bartolo said the PN had become an unscrupulous machine that "grabbed and stole votes" through, for example, lying to hunters and trappers on spring hunting, awarding promotions and granting favours through the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the tax and VAT departments, among others.

If elected MLP leader, Mr Bartolo said he would fully integrate the party into the information society through the creation of an interactive portal that would enable it to be in constant contact with thousands of people using the internet. Through the portal, Mr Bartolo said he would involve the MLP in a continuous democratic conversation with an online community with whom it would draw up its policies for a better life.

Mr Bartolo promised to use his experience as a journalist and university lecturer in communications to develop and strengthen the party's media. He would also work to build better relations with the rest of the media. He told delegates they were the party's greatest asset and that he wanted to work with them to attract more people to the party.

"I want to speak to every person who, for some reason or other, no longer votes for us and I want to work to understand that person and help him or her to return within our fold."

He would be willing to do whatever was needed for members to unite and strengthen the party. And while there was a lot that needed improvement, the party had a lot of good on which to build. The party had to become a young people's party, a grandparents' party and a parents' party.

He would work to strengthen Labour's social democratic principles and the party's work and policies would be drawn up with an open mind and following an exhaustive internal debate. He would work for the party to become an organisation where new ideas and initiatives were encouraged, Mr Bartolo said.