Toni Abela outlines wish list of MLP members

Unity within the Labour Party and the participation of the grassroots were yesterday underlined by deputy leader hopeful Toni Abela as two of the wishes of delegates and members.

In a brief press conference in front of the monument of Manwel Dimech in Valletta, Dr Abela said delegates and members also wanted the party to be politically active to attract more people into its fold, including those who had left the party.

A last wish was for the party to offer a credible and strong opposition and become the natural choice for the electorate, he said.

Dr Abela said these wishes had become clear to him after meeting with a number of people over the past two months, adding that they had been expressed by newly elected party leader Joseph Muscat.

He said he had spoken to Dr Muscat about the process and the MLP leader assured him that he has no preference for who becomes deputy leader and would not be sending out any messages.

Asked about the case of veteran Labour MP Joe Debono Grech, who resigned from the party following Dr Muscat's election but not from Parliament, Dr Abela said he did not know the reason for this decision.

Dr Abela is contesting the post of deputy leader for party affairs together with Clyde Joe Cassar, Gavin Gulia and Joe Mifsud.

The election will be held on Thursday.