The poison spreads

There are still more twists and turns to come in the race to elect a new leader for the Malta Labour Party as well in that for the two posts of deputy leader. The proliferation of candidates was not really expected, even if political nature too abhors a vacuum. Nor was it widely anticipated that so many old hands would, subtly or more pointedly, do their best to distance themselves from the unsuccessful days of the very recent past.

But that's politics, as hardened insiders know well enough. If nothing succeeds like success, it is equally true that nothing falls as flatly as dismal political failure. That may yet be counter pointed by pressure to ensure that change takes place beyond the three top positions. That particular part of the drama is being written behind the scenes as the current presidential and secretarial incumbents may be beginning to suspect. It will probably burst in the open after the new leader and deputy leaders are elected.

Meanwhile, the focus will remain on the top prize for the next three weeks. Part of the game has already been played out. It hasn't been all that pretty. Much harder tackles are more likely in the days ahead, a number of them from behind. One warning that I gave from past experience has already had an echo. I wrote that I hoped the predilection among a few twisted minds in the Labour fold, which hold the poisoned anonymous letter in high regard, will not yield their evil fruit this time round as well.

Some hope. I am told that anonymous words have been spat at more than one of the five candidates vying to become the new leader. The style so far has been that used most widely among commoner folk. Anonymous letters were sent directly to candidates or to their relatives. My advice in such circumstances is to tear up the poison letter as soon as one notes its evil intent. But curiosity all too frequently brushes aside that approach. When that happens the evil-doers achieve their aim, which is simply to hurt, to cut as deeply as the twisted mind can.

There is plenty of time for more of the same, varying the approach. More letters may be sent aimed to create apprehension among the candidates and their families. I do not at all exclude that, soon enough, anonymous letters will be sent to a much wider circulation. The target will be the party delegates, though the writers will be careful not to suggest that they have access to their addresses, not far different from the way that a newspaper was given access to the minutes of an MLP 1998 national executive meeting.

The effectiveness of poison letters depends on the psychological profile of individual targets and the gullibility of the wider audience when that style is adopted. Where sense prevails, anonymous letters should be despised, shredded and their contents ignored. They are absolute negativism. They also damage the party, which wants a free and reasoned choice. Anything other than that will sow further seeds of future failures.