High point for rising star

Acknowledged as Labour's most successful MEP, Joseph Muscat was the first candidate to officially announce his intention to contest the leadership election.

The youngest contender for the leadership post, he had told The Sunday Times in an interview that he looked forward to becoming Prime Minister in five years' time, at 39.

Seen as the contender closest to former leader Alfred Sant, Dr Muscat had been quick to point out that, if he was voted in as leader, the party would get him and nobody else.

Yesterday, he obtained 49.77 per cent of the 874 votes cast by delegates.

Dr Muscat's involvement in politics began soon after Dr Sant was elected party leader in 1992 and soon after the new leader had said there was space in the MLP for all those who wished to contribute.

He joined Super One, the party's radio station, and became one of a group of journalists led by Evarist Bartolo - another contender for the post. Mr Bartolo dropped out of the race yesterday, after obtaining 3.66 per cent of the votes cast.

Dr Muscat, who hails from Burmarrad, occupied several positions within the party and in 2001 was appointed the first editor of Maltastar.com, Labour's online newspaper.

In 2003, he was part of a working group formed to draw up Labour's new policy on the European Union and later that year was nominated MLP president at the party's annual general conference, considered one of the most sensitive in many years because it had to decide on the party's EU policy.

He successfully contested Malta's first elections for the European Parliament in 2004, obtaining 15 per cent of the valid votes cast.

In the European Parliament, he is vice chairman of the delegation to Belarus, a member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and a substitute member of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.

He has successfully campaigned on a number of issues, notably for the removal of Malta's departure tax, the removal of the satellite dish receiver licence, the closure of St Luke's Hospital incinerator and for subsidies for air links between islands - such as Malta and Gozo - to be allowed.

Dr Muscat, who has a PhD in economics, won the Outstanding Young Person of the Year award in 2006 in recognition of his political work.

Dr Muscat is married to Michelle née Tanti and they are the parents of twins, Etoile Ella and Soleil Sophie.