Friday, 6th June 2008 - 10:23CET

UPDATED: 'I'm still in the contest' - Abela

(Adds Michael Falzon's comments)

Labour leadership contender George Abela said today he was “still in the contest” in the MLP election although he was “realistic” about his chances.

The other candidate in the run-off, Joseph Muscat, needed just three votes to win an absolute majority yesterday, having won 435 votes to Dr Abela's 200.

Dr Abela told timesofmalta.com that he had expected to win slightly more votes, but his surprise, he said, was the low number of votes polled for Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Evarist Bartolo. “I never expected their numbers to be so low, that increased the advantage for Joseph Muscat” he said.

The outcome tonight depended on how the votes shifted. Although he was still in with a chance, he was being realistic , Dr Abela said.

He said the second round of voting would have been needed whatever he did, since the MLP statute required the leader to have the support of the majority of the delegates.

Michael Falzon, who came third in yesterday’s vote, with 181 votes, this morning issued a statement to thank the delegates and to promise loyalty to the party.

He also thanked all the other delegates who took part in the vote.

Dr Falzon, whose term as deputy leader (party affairs) ends next week, confirmed he will not seek another post but would serve as a Labour MP.

He augured the best to the new Labour leader.

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Comments

L. Borg (on 7/6/08)

Dear Silvan, Joseph was my first preference for the leadership though i had no problem with supporting George Abela if he was elected as leader reason being is that we should be united not act like little children if you really have the party at heart. We should all pull the same rope to see what we all really - Labour in Government. I do agree with you that we need winds of change within the party and do strongly beileve that this would happen. - Let us give Dr Muscat a chance to prove himself. Good Luck Dr Muscat.

Frans Sammut (on 7/6/08)

I agree completely with Dr Zahra. Dr Abela should have conceded defeat on seeing the result of the first vote. It would have shown him as a sensible man (or "realistic" in his own words) and, above all, a gentleman.

Stephen Abela (on 6/6/08)

I was all out for Gorg Abela , not that I do not have trust in Muscat himself , its the people who pushed him foward ! Let' s hope for the best ! When elected , Muscat must give a clear strong sign of unity and a much stronger sign of change , or else it would be better for Labour supporters like me to pack their stuff and call it a day !

J Abela (on 6/6/08)

I don't know about the rest of you out there, but I personally don't get what makes some people posting comments here, tick. For instance:

1. If the MLP statute says that the new leader has to have support of the majority of the delegates, then you need 50%+1 of the votes (anzi suppost minn tant nies ghandkom tkunu intom li tifhmu fil-maggoranza, tal- PN!). So if none of the candidates managed that, they need a run off. Period.

2. If Abela pulls out.... a run off for Muscat against who? And if Abela had pulled out and Muscat got less than 50% support tonight, what happens? Is labour supposed to make a phone call to Abela saying "Orrajt George, kif ahna? Isma hu naqra pacenzja imma withdraw your withdrawal ghax l-iehor ma gabiex il-50%+1!"..... or hold on (this one is even better): would Abela win by default despite having withdrawn?

3. The MLP is in a state of renewal. Let them be. Wait before firing the cannon against the new leader.

Ah yes - allow me to correct myself. I get what makes these people tick: any opportunity is a good opportunity for carachter assassination using rabied comments.

Mario Gauci (on 6/6/08)

@A. Daley

It seems that you are not truly conversant with English politics at all. If an election is held today in the UK, you can bet your behind that the Conservatives will be voted to power with a landslide majority.

Also just because Gonzi will be 65 years in fives years time will not preclude him from winning another term. with respect to Dr. Muscat, he will have nearly 5 long years to put the MLP's house in order and also have a clear vision of how to steer this country. A very major task indeed lies ahead of whoever wins the election tonight.

In my humblest opinion as an outsider, I would have thought that G. Abela would be the right person to do the job.

chris borg (on 6/6/08)

@Silvan Mifsud: Sil, there is nothing wrong whatsoever to campaign for a contender. it's exciting and tests your ability to convince. after the contest let's just take an oar each and row the same boat towards government. You might prefer George, but i'm sure you find no wrong in Joseph. I'm absolutely sure.

Maria Dolores Fenech (on 6/6/08)

I agree with K Vella. 'Sikkina taqta' miz-zewg nahat'. If Dr Abela did not remain in the contest, some would have said that he is again abandoning the delegates who voted him! It is a matter of personal choice, because the second round of voting would have been needed whatever he did, since the MLP statute required the leader to have the support of the majority of the delegates.

chris borg (on 6/6/08)

@K.Vella : I accept this argument, up to a certain extent. I would have preferred another way but at the end it is his right. I just hope that for the Party's and the country's sake George will join ranks and together with Joseph build an outward-looking party with the required readiness to take office. I strongly believe George and Joseph are a fab tandem. Joseph was my choice for the simple reason that I want a leader for the next 10 to 15 years. The "handing-over" that was being proposed by GA's promoters did not convince me at all.

a licari (on 6/6/08)

Dr Abela, just do what's rational. Concede defeat.

Maria Dolores Fenech (on 6/6/08)

@ anti-MLP
those of you who are saying that Dr Abela should bow out, you seem to have a very short memory. Mr John Dalli remained in the race with Dr Gonzi in 2004. He is remaining loyal to those delegates who voted him and not 'abandoning them' as some said he was doing because he was unreachable.
I supported Dr Abela because his credentials, carisma and wit made him a natural leader. But it is almost certain that Dr Muscat is going to be the new leader of the MLP. Welcome Dr Muscat and good luck.

Farrugia MAnuel (on 6/6/08)

Some are saying that Muscat is better than Abela, and others are saying that Abela is better then Muscat.

My question is:-

Can they not work together for the good of the party and ultimately the country? They seem to have very complementary personalities...

Joe Vella (on 6/6/08)

A house divided shall remain divided.

Silvan Cutajar (on 6/6/08)

@ K.Vella. Karm you need to restart thinking labour and not remain a rebel for ever. You cant impose what you think is logic all of the time in life and most of the time one must work slowly and long term to achieve. If JM gives everyone his space as he promised, this is what should be in the best interest of everyone. GA was a very valid contender. But if delegates prefer his services at a different level, this should be accepted.

Re all the rest. It seems a win-win situation. If Nationalists are happy coz they believe Gonzi PN can take it easy with JM, whilst labourites wanted JM, it seems a win-win situation to me.

Everyone should not give JM a chance to prove himself. The real burden at the top has now changed. Shortly the administration will be changed (particularly Jason Micallef). This should bring labour back to life.

Michael Falzon was very decent in his statement.

K.Vella (on 6/6/08)

@ Emmanuel Mazzitelli - Thanks for the correction, minor slip.

@chris borg - That's another matter altogether. However from that angle, I still personally see no wrong in George Abela's doing. It's definitely a personal choice, and whilst I am convinced of Muscat's ultimate victory, I am all for seeing how close it actually was.

Pino Bono (on 6/6/08)

What ever they say, it isn't the members voting. Whoever is elected (read JM) he will lead the party machine but not the members. The latter will always remember that they were left out.

m.Portelli (on 6/6/08)

What yesterday showed is that you have half the delegates who do not think JM is the best choice. It also seems that the air of overconfidence from March 8th persists. Yes we will heartily wish Joseph Muscat luck he is going to need it. If anything, how he is going to reel in those elements around him who feel they own the Labour party? There's many he needs to convince with actions. Past acceptance speeches at the CNL all contained the word ;’inclusion ‘ but history showed us where that went , out of the mouths of feted leaders straight through the glass windows with an almighty shatter and crash. It’s alright to posture and spout the buzzword inclusion we can already see where that's going. Careful it does not turn into exclusion again. The hip hip hurrahs will come once the promised earthquakes occur where they should. My guess is there's heavy insurance against damage in some parts more than others. Malta will be watching......................................

m.vassallo (on 6/6/08)

What a shame.Dr Abela doesn't concede defeat.come on we expect more political maturity from you.be a true labourite and show us that your enemy is the PN and concede defeat before the secong round starts. now is the time if you want help unite the party and enjoy more support from the delegates .

Silvan Cutajar (on 6/6/08)

@Benny Saliba. Over confidence is always a deterrant.

R Attard (on 6/6/08)

I guess whatever I comment here is really in vain. However, I guess no harm by putting in my 2 cent piece. Dr Abela vs Dr Muscat ... Time experience vs EU experience ... Well my theory is that Dr Abela will have an easier time than Dr Muscat when it comes with dealing with Gonzi PN , due to proven experience demonstrated by Dr Abela. We know for one thing that Dr Abela stands up for what he believes and is not afraid to take action for set principles. On the other hand Dr Muscat is relatively new and is yet to prove himself as a hard player.
What we really need in this country is a good opposition. I have come across a fair few number of Nationalist supporters that say that they will be prepared to vote labour should Dr Abela takes leadership. Unfortunately I have not come across anyone that says the same for Dr Muscat. Maybe it is just coincidence.
Having said the above I wish both contestants the very best and I hope whoever takes leadership, shows true colours as this is what we need for our BELOVED ISLAND.

adrian sammut (on 6/6/08)

The Party machine has again proved to be inpenetrable. Just what the doctor ordered for the MLP after 6 defeats out of the last 7.! - Alfred Sant's protege' at the helm of the party!

And yet the Sant legacy gets to live on.!

Some things never change they say and so with the Malta Losers Party.

M Farrugia (on 6/6/08)

What I am seeing here is a mix of sour grapes with frustrated nationalist supporters that fear Muscat big time. I understand their conservative values an status quo are at risk now. It is high time for Malta, our country ,to go through a liberal and progressive phase. 10 years of a Muscat government. GonziPN is already counting its days in government

Do you remember John Major vs Tony Blair? Smile. It`s back. In 5 years time it will be a 65 year old gonzi, tired conservative and more of the same versus Joseph Muscat, young energetic, media savvy a visionist ,popular amongst the floaters, the greens, the disengaged and the young. A truly progressive movement

Bring it on any time

Romans used to call this as specificiatio. cheer up

C Calleja (on 6/6/08)

I really agree that Labour delegates should note what citizens are saying.
Floaters prefer Joseph Muscat and the same applies for the young generation. Aren't these the sectors that normally decide an election?
Good luck joseph, wish you'll do it tonight so you can achieve greater success in five years time.

A Daley (on 6/6/08)

m farrugia, people like you have kept our Island backwards for decades

The Conservative Party in UK took Britain into the EU, but today the Labour Party in UK would stay within the EU and if there was a referendum the Conservatives would vote against the EU. Should the British Labour party now do what your tunnel vision brain of yours is suggesting?

So you see, just because one had and might still have valid reasons not to join or otherwise, it does not make one an imbecile like your reasoning.
Besides, m farrigia, what is happening to our economy since we joined the EU?

Have you got any suggestions of what the coming budget going to be like, after 4 years within the EU? Maybe you are able to justify the mess of the Government finances as well.

Little things pleases little minds!

Edwin Formosa (on 6/6/08)

So 'Mr.Made in Brussels' will probably be the MLP leader. A 'fula maqsuma ma Alfred Sant' means 'Bidu Gdid' was as successful as 'Partnership', 'CET'.....Prospects make most Labourites and all Nationalis happy..

Silvan Cutajar (on 6/6/08)

@ Silvan Mifsud. If you really support labour, you need to support whoever is elected from the process. If you abandoned labour a few years back, now is the time to join forces. If the delegates chose GA, I would say the same thing.

John Caruana (on 6/6/08)

The MLP never learns from the past mistakes. The Party is doing the same mistake again and again. Electing Dr Muscat means that the driver of the car is new, but the engine is still the old, high milage, in need of fresh oil and water, one.

Emmanuel Mazzitelli (on 6/6/08)

@ K. Vella

'' yourselves '' is the right spelling of the word.

chris borg (on 6/6/08)

@K.Vella : hehehe...procedures not procedures. go and tell it to the marines Karm. George is a good man but he's just lost the contest. You know he has no chance in the world of beating Joseph and had he the good of the party at heart he should endorse Joseph. Personally I don't think its a matter of conceding, but simply endorsing. the party and its leader Joseph Muscat will come out stronger and George will become Labour's hero.

Benny Saliba (on 6/6/08)

Please, lads, don't call him Joseph Muscat. He is a DOCTOR. Hurrah for the next election! You can't have it better, GonziPN. Good luck.

m farrugia (on 6/6/08)

So we will probably soon have a Labour leader who boasts of his success in Europe. This leader was not very long ago opposing EU membership, but at the first chance he took one of the best opportunities in the EU. This potential leader also boasts that he is guided by the opposition spokesman for foreign affairs, who also not long ago referred to the EU as 'It Talibani ta l-Ewropa"!
I'm sure NET TV are fetching all these footages and what a feast they will make out of it.
MLP had an opportunity to start a fresh page and lost it. Good luck Dr Muscat, it will be very tough to persuade all those who did not vote MLP, especially those that had voted in favour of EU

Silvan Mifsud (on 6/6/08)

Dear Dr.Abela, thanks for your commitment and for trying against all odds put into your path to try to give a real new beginning to the Labour Party, through your leadership. Unfortunately, some things never change and the core of the Labour Party is one of them. In my view, this was yet again a vote for no real change...purely incredible if you think about it!

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin (on 6/6/08)

As was expected, almost half the number of party delegates voted for Dr. J. Muscat. We now have the final race this evening. I pray to God that the delegates will vote for the best leader and according to the wishes of the people. After all, the citizens' votes will make the Labour Party a winning party.

Ultimately, I feel that the party delegates should shoulder the responsibility for any further failure in the General Elections.

Liam Borg (on 6/6/08)

One would have expected George Abela to be more reasonable in this regard. There is now a great big question mark on what his intentions really are; whether he intends to truly unite the party or whether this was all a show of personal interests and ambition. Reason dictates that since the greater part of the delegates want Joseph Muscat than he should heed this call by doing the right thing and conceding. It is true that, according to party statute, the election needs to be held anyway but that surely does not preclude one from conceding in favor of the other: which in the end is a show of respect, support and unity for the stronger leader.

K. Vella (on 6/6/08)

"He said the second round of voting would have been needed whatever he did, since the MLP statute required the leader to have the support of the majority of the delegates."

Some of the people, but not all, replying in this thread have not the slightest idea of procedure. YOU are the ones who should be ashamed of yourselfs, not George Abela. Alas I am also getting the feeling that the majority of the comments in question have not been written by free-thinking minds, but rather by dumb attack dogs puppeteered into submission.

Silvan Cutajar (on 6/6/08)

with less people voting tonight it is obvious JM will gain over 60% of the vote. If not more. So GA (even for his own credentials) would be best conceding defeat and the conference would take a vote of confidence in JM. GA should remain an important figure in the MLP. I see him as a strong candidate in the next general election.

Jason Vella (on 6/6/08)

I think Dr Abela is doing well to stay in the race -
this is not his decision, but it is the decision of the delegates.

Also, a contest between the two is very different from a contest between five. May be they were delegates who voted for Muscat in fear of one of the other contestants getting elected;

But whoever wins, I am happy - they are both very great politicians and I strongly believe MLP has a very bright future.

Claire Bonello (on 6/6/08)

For all those clamouring for Abela not to do a Hillary Clinton and to concede defeat, read up the MLP statute - a run-off election has to be held in these circumstances.

A.ATTARD (on 6/6/08)

THE FACT THAT JOSEPH MUSCAT WAS NOT ELECTED FOR JUST 3 VOTES IS SIMPLY A BLESSING.!!!!!!!
THERE IS NOW THE FINAL RACE BETWEEN G ABELA AND J MUSCAT, OH SRY EXCUSE ME DR SANT JUNIOR, WHICH THUS CAN BE PN'S BEST CANVASER FOR OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

I FORESEE THAT GEORGE ABELA ,THE REAL MAN WITH THE POSITIVE AND STRONG CREDENTIALS NECESSARY TO REVIVE MLP, HAS DOUBLE THE CHANCE NOW TO BE THE CHOSEN LEADER....GOOD LUCK GEORGE ABELA , I AM SURE U WILL BRING A CALMER ATMOSPHERE IN MALTAS POLITICAL DEMOCRACY!!!

Angelo Micallef (on 6/6/08)

The race is as good as over...agree or not (definitely a not in my case) Joseph Muscat is going to be the man at the helm of the Centru Nazzjonali Laburista!!!

Peter Camilleri (on 6/6/08)

This is a big mistake and just embarrassing now on his part! It is true that the party delegates will have to vote all the same but it`s one thing speaking about a runoff and another when speaking about a vote of confidence in Dr. Joseph Muscat
We are VERY disappointed in Dr. Abela today.
I really hope that he concedes defeat by this afternoon to Joseph Muscat
he's delusional!
We are losing a lot of respect for Dr Abela these days.
Sad. Sad. Sad.

A Abela (on 6/6/08)

Its all about image! Why would he remain in the contest if his chances are next to none. Isn't he unrealistic!!

R Cassar (on 6/6/08)

I really am not sure what sort of game Dr George Abela is playing here. Is he doing a Hillary Clinton? Personally, I look for him to concede defeat, congratulate Muscat and hold his hand up in the traditional victory salute. It will take a ton of bricks to get Abela to see through his delusions of grandeur. But, in the end, I just hope that common sense will prevail.

M Farrugia (on 6/6/08)

Congrats to all the candidates. They all delivered and ran a smooth and transparent campaign. Well Done Dr. Abela. A very good performance indeed. Having said that, I humbly advise you to concede defeat and unite your forces with Dr. Joseph Muscat. I remember quite well John Dalli conceding defeat a couple of years ago. It is logical and it is for the common good of the Party. Lawrence Gonzi emerged victorious and thats why Dr Abela should follow Dalli`s decision at that time.

Dr. Abela this is the right time for you to show your love for the labour party. Dont let your personal interest have the upper hand. The delegates and the members of the labour party believe in you. Don't let them down

C. Camilleri (on 6/6/08)

He is proving to be a bad loser! Is it this the type of unity he wants to bring? The result was crystal clear, the delegates want you but not as a leader. Are you going to stay or what?

G. Sammut (on 6/6/08)

This is absolutely pathetic on George Abela's part. The man knows that he won't make it and if he truly wants to earn the respect of all Labourites he would admit that he's no where near as strong as Joseph Muscat and concede. It seems George Abela is only out to break the party rather than unite it. What a shame.

Lynn zahra (on 6/6/08)

George Abela should do the honourable thing and bow out now. A candidate like Joseph Muscat who received double George Abela's votes plus, should not be subjected to a run off. That would be taking advantage of a technicality. George said he is being realistic. His honourable way now is to concede and not wait for this evening's contest.

UPDATED: 'I'm still in the contest' - Abela

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