Two former Labour ministers endorse Coleiro Preca

Daniel Micallef and Vincent Moran, former Labour ministers in the 1980s, yesterday endorsed Marie Louise Coleiro Preca in her race for the party's leadership.

The two doctors, who addressed a breakfast hosted by Ms Coleiro Preca for members of Labour's veterans' organisation, highlighted the importance of looking to the past to build a better future for the island.

As the leadership race enters the last week, the tension is heightening among the five delegates who are scrambling to persuade delegates they are the woman or man for the job.

The endorsement of Ms Coleiro Preca follows hot on the heels of the controversial endorsement of MEP Joseph Muscat by PES chairman Martin Schulz. All the four contenders wrote to Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists, protesting that this move was "deeply offensive, totally irregular, and highly unethical".

Contrary to yesterday's endorsement of Ms Coleiro Preca by two former ministers, Mr Schulz had not endorsed Dr Muscat on a personal basis but had made it clear he was doing so in his capacity as PES chairman.

Dr Micallef, a former Speaker who was awarded a National Order of Merit for his concept of a holistic environment, spoke highly of Ms Coleiro Preca, whom he felt was a genuine, sincere person who symbolised the values of a teacher and mother.

"This is what our country needs. Let's keep these values in mind when we vote for a new leader. As a doctor and a person who studied psychology, a woman has more intelligence and goodwill than a man and I encourage more women to enter politics," he said.

"I had offered my help in the past, but I was given the cold shoulder. Now we need to work together for Malta. Life depends on the roots of experience that feeds the socialist soul," Dr Micallef added.

Meanwhile, Dr Moran, a former health minister, highlighted Ms Coleiro Preca's role as Labour's general secretary during difficult times for the country.

"I feel hurt that so few youngsters remember the good the MLP brought to Malta over the years. I felt it was my duty to be here today. Let us learn from our mistakes and failures and look ahead," he said.

"Now is the time for us veterans to guide the younger generation in their choice. Let us be united with one goal for the good of Malta," he said.

In her address Ms Coleiro Preca spoke of how the party was enriched with genuine people at the grassroots level.

"If I'm elected, I will be inviting veterans to take a more central role in the voluntary sector because they have so much to give," she said.

She also spoke about the party's background and said it was a pity that so few youngsters knew what the party stood for.

"All they know is what the Nationalist Party has fed them that we're a bunch of hooligans, but Labour has done a lot for Malta's development," she said.

Ms Coleiro Preca was asked by The Times about her opinion on the ban issued by Labour's electoral commission prohibiting the five candidates contesting the leadership from taking part in this Friday's television programme Xarabank.

"I don't wish to get into whether I agree with the ban or not. This wasn't an arbitrary decision and the commission has been discussing matters with the candidates. I abide by the regulations," she said.

But did she not feel that this decision kept the party stuck in the previous mentality, when the Labour used to shun taking part in this discussion programme?

"This has nothing to do with what used to happen in the past. This decision was taken on its own merits, and it's not just Xarabank. There are some decisions I agree with and some I don't, but I abide by them. We cannot upstage everything all the time," she insisted.