Coleiro Preca urges delegates to vote freely

The only female candidate in the Labour leadership election, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, told party delegates in Gozo yesterday that her campaign was conducted internally and not through an advertising agency or the use of big funds.

Appealing to the delegates for their votes, she said they should not feel pressurised by anyone and should vote freely. Having devoted the last 34 years of her life to the party, she was able to give her complete loyalty to the MLP, strengthening it with her experience.

Speaking about the report that evaluated Labour's electoral defeat, Ms Coleiro Preca said that many of the problems addressed in the study were the ones that many of the delegates themselves have been asking her about.

Although there have been many "experiments" taking place within the party, she felt the MLP had to built on unity, it had to be properly organised, it needs to be close to the people and implement social democratic policies that reflect the aspirations of today's young people.

Ms Coleiro Preca said the party needs to be courageous and assertive and able to make the right changes at the grassroot level where necessary.