Coleiro Preca insists on MLP's social values at close of her campaign

Labour Party leadership candidate Marie Louise Coleiro Preca rounded up her campaign today, promising that if elected leader, she would submit to a vote of confidence by the party delegates in four years’ time.

Addressing a press conference, Ms Coleiro-Preca said that no leader of a modern party should be at the helm for ever.

“What we should hang on to are our values and principles,” she said.

She urged delegates to choose wisely and freely.

“It is not right to give delegates the perception that someone has a right to tell them what to do. It is incorrect and immoral for the Nationalist Party and others with an undeclared interest to try to tell delegates that they have the duty to give someone or other an answer. What delegates should do is ensure the process is open and choose for themselves, basing their choice on the candidate they believe can best help the party," she said.

Ms Coleiro Preca promised that, if elected leader, she would give the party’s local committees a strong political profile as a means of getting the party closer to the people.

She said that she wanted to return the MLP to the serenity, tranquillity and unity she once knew. She also wanted to ensure that the party put its social values at the top of its agenda.

The party had to reacquire its distinguishing identity and realise that its sole aim was to develop these values.

She said that she had analysed the party’s defeat report and this had clearly shown that the party had not been seeing the people’s perceptions.

“We have to bond with people,” she said.

The party’s media also had to be better used and the MLP should use all technological means to spread its message. It also had to be media friendly, its policies had to be researched and understood and it had to be a credible as well as courageous party.

Asked whether she would be contesting the deputy leadership election should she fail to be elected, Ms Coleiro Preca would not commit herself saying “Let’s wait till Thursday. I will take that decision in due time.”