Updated: Muscat wins endorsement of European socialists' head

(Updates with Labour electoral commission reaction)

Labour leadership contender Joseph Muscat this morning won a glowing endorsement from Martin Schulz, the chairman of the Party of European Socialists, currently visiting Malta.

“I am here to express my support to my friend Joe, a very important member of our parliamentary group. I know Joseph Muscat as a deeply convinced pro-European,” Mr Schulz said at a press conference.

He praised Dr Muscat for his “diplomatic abilities” which, he said, had helped him solve problems within the socialist group. He said Dr Muscat's experience in the EU institutions would be an added advantage should he be elected MLP leader.

Dr Muscat thanked Mr Schulz for his backing and said that should he be elected leader, his work in the European Parliament was a useful experience in his efforts to change the way things worked in Malta.

He promised that if he was not elected he would help the new leader and support all efforts to further the strong relations with the European socialists.

Mr Schulz said when questioned that he viewed all the other leadership contenders as valid people.

Meanwhile, following a decision by Labour’s electoral office which is overseeing the campaigns of the five leadership contenders, One TV this evening did not broadcast what Mr Schulz said about Dr Muscat and did not carry footage showing Mr Schulz. It however carried comments by Dr Muscat.