The basic problem is within the party - Abela

The new Labour leader's priorities should be to bring back the MLP supporters who did not vote for the party in the last election and the thousands of disillusioned PN supporters who abstained from voting in protest, George Abela, one of the five contenders for the MLP top post said yesterday.

Speaking at a meeting for party delegates and members at Frangul Hall in Paola - the last in a series of public meetings before the Labour leadership election on June 5, he said the disillusioned Nationalists who had distanced themselves from their party but did not vote for the MLP were "there for the taking".

The new leader had to strongly consider the fact that the thousands of Nationalist voters who did not vote for the PN did not vote for the MLP either as well as the fact that 7,300 MLP supporters did not feel they should place their trust in the MLP.

The delegates had to consider who of the five contenders was most capable of drawing in these votes as well as who could bring about unity and peace within the party.

Dr Abela referred to the report that analysed Labour's third consecutive electoral defeat, saying the challenges the new leader would have to tackle immediately were change, inclusivity, unity and peace within the party to halt the internal fighting.

"The basic problem is inside us (the party)," he said.

Another aim of the elected leader would be the reorganisation of the party, which the commission that compiled the report said had lost the sense of security and confidence it had earned between 1992 and 1996.

Since that time, Dr Abela said, quoting the commission's report, the party had been riddled with infighting between individuals and rival cliques but the new leadership could not tolerate any internal problems just to retain a position of power.

Dr Abela stressed on his promise to do away with cliques.

The leadership contender planned to reorganise the party's internal structure from the bottom. In the first months, his contribution to Parliament would not be as important as the change within the party's organisation, which would take time but should not take long.

Speaking against the "fortress mentality" and in favour of inclusion, Dr Abela called for the decentralisation of power and the creation of zones for the organisation of regional conferences, where the grassroots could be listened to for consultation on strategy and policy.

No one should fear political transparency and discussion should be free. He urged constructive internal talks and a healthy debate.

"We need to forget all differences among us and speak with one voice," he said.

Dr Abela encouraged delegates to study thoroughly the report of the electoral defeat, urging them to keep an open mind, listen, analyse till the very end and not follow their hearts.