Tuesday, 20th May 2008 - 11:42CET

Updated: MLP says delegate list given to candidates for all posts

(Adds comments by Joseph Muscat)

The Labour Party today reacted to complaints about the leakage of information about its delegates to a newspaper, saying updated lists had been given to all candidates for posts within its structures.

This, it said, had always been the practice.

Lists were given, on request, to those seeking posts in the party administration and national executive, as well as general election candidates.

Any speculation about this case was aimed only at harming the party, the MLP said.

Leadership candidate Evarist Bartolo said earlier today that the leakage of the list of candidates to a newspaper had ‘poisoned’ the process for the election of the leadership. Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca, Michael Falzon and Joseph Muscat also condemned the leakage.

Dr Muscat in a letter to the MLP electoral commission said today he backed Dr Coleiro-Preca's call for the commission to investigate what had happened. He said the leakage of this information was unacceptable and the the exercise done through this information (a newspaper survey of voting intentions) had put undue pressure on the delegates and hindered all the candidates.The survey had found Dr Muscat strongly ahead.

Comments

Charles J Buttigieg (on 20/5/08)

Looking back at my successful career endorses what I always preach that milestones are achieved only through following the good examples of other successful fellow executives not by envying them.
I have no problem to make it known that I am full of admiration for the way Joseph Muscat is conducting his campaign. One may take the attitude of the ostrich but in the final analyses Joseph is still leading the polls.And I am also prepared to let you in on another secret, Gavin Gulia also deserves an honorable mention. I sincerely wish that all the contenders shall follow Joseph and Gavin's style and give them a hard time at campaigning and even surpass them in the polls as that will make our Labour an even greater organisation.

Edward Cassar (on 20/5/08)

Condemning the leakage is no childish comment. What really worries me is the way the survey was constructed. As far as I know, none of the leadership contenders slammed the newspaper but whoever gave the list of delegates to the newspaper. Yesterday Dr Michael Falzon revealed that the list of delegates was tampered with and the survey was conducted on a sample that clearly preferred one of the candidates. This sample was surely given by a person within the MLP who is supporting the candidate who 'obtained' most votes in the poll. Now read again the statement by the MLP, which DEFENDS the survey. Now make one plus one and you will get a clue of who is backing who in the leadership race!

And Mr Buttigieg, please, remind us who you are backing in the leadership race. Maybe the candidate who obtained most votes in this farcical survey?

Keith Grech (on 20/5/08)

I believe this is just a storm in a tea cup. What is wrong with the media keeping a close on eye on the method a political leader is selected? What is wrong with a list of delegates being made public? I believe that people join and pay political membership because they want their views to be accepted by most members of the nation. I should henceforth propose that delegate member lists of all political parties are to be made public to guarantee that nobody abuses from power of incumbency!!! It will be another tooth in the checks and balances cogwheel. Well if Mr.Muscat is in the lead the others can either do their best to catch up or else give way to the new leader......... that's why surveys are for. Secondly, if an independent newspaper is keeping a close eye on the MLP leadership bid one should be grateful as it will guarantee that the process is healthy and done according to modern standards. It is the duty of the media to be present.

Charles J Buttigieg (on 20/5/08)

The negative attitude,destructive criticism,childish comments to the adversarial media that are being made by some of the Labour Leadership hopefuls is certainly not giving any positive mileage to the party and definitely detrimental to their own campaign. This is a pity as otherwise they all possess the good qualities which the party needs.

As a life long Labour supporter and well known to all contenders I appeal to some of them to consult with their 'Leading Light' and possibly re-visit their campaign trail so far. The bickering,subtle snipe and under the belt punching is not doing them any good.

Although I am not a party delegate I do enjoy a reasonable degree of respect from a great number of delegates and I shall be exercising the power that this position gives me. I have no difficulty at all to declare that my choice will be for that contestant with a positive and convincing attitude to enhance the future prospects of our party. That will be the person who I want to lead our party.

Wishing luck to all contenders because I truly love and respect them all.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Friday, August 8, 2008. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Updated: MLP says delegate list given to candidates for all posts

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