Former and incumbent MLP general secretaries cross swords

Former Labour general secretary Jimmy Magro and his successor, Jason Micallef, crossed swords yesterday as the former posted a comment on timesofmalta.com urging delegates to choose another person for the post.

Mr Magro posted his comment in reaction to the item carried by The Sunday Times yesterday on the general secretary election taking place this evening.

In view of a directive for contestants not to write in the media, Mr Micallef sought the permission of Labour's electoral commission to reply to Mr Magro's comments, which he then described as "blatant lies".

In his posting, Mr Magro said that some years ago he had sent an e-mail to Mr Micallef requesting an appointment. He said Mr Micallef replied by saying he saw no reason why he should meet him and copied the reply to the then party leader Alfred Sant.

"When I replied to both persons I never got a second reply. Meaning both agreed I should not meet Jason Micallef. How can the party move forward under these conditions of arrogance and stupidity?" Mr Magro asked.

"I have learned that the incumbent has a hefty salary and one year's salary if his contract is terminated. When my contract ended with the MLP, I had to register for work for six months and we are a family of six. I had to apply for social assistance too. This is what I got from serving the party for more than 14 years at the national level," Mr Magro said.

"I appeal to all delegates to make the most logical step: elect a new secretary general," he concluded.

In his reaction to these comments, Mr Micallef said these were "blatant lies". He said his contract was identical to Mr Magro's when he was general secretary for the 12 years preceding his term.

He added that his contract had the same conditions but that, on his own request, his salary was several thousand liri less than Mr Magro's. Mr Micallef said former deputy leader Michael Falzon and Dr Sant could confirm this because they were the signatories of his contract.

Moreover, Mr Micallef said, unlike Mr Magro, he did not receive extra remuneration for sitting on the board of One Television, the party's television station.

Reacting to the one year's salary comment if his contract is terminated, Mr Micallef said that as party administration minutes could confirm, Mr Magro was paid for the rest of his contract by the party when he left his post.

This was the latest in a series of attacks on Mr Micallef.

In a letter carried on the Sunday Times on July 27, Labour MP Leo Brincat urged party delegates not to vote for Mr Micallef, saying that the party must avoid making "risky and counter-productive choices". Mr Brincat did not name Mr Micallef but Labour sources confirmed that an episode mentioned by Mr Brincat in his letter referred to an exchange between him and Mr Micallef.

In a comment posted on timesofmalta.com in reaction to Mr Brincat's letter, Mario Vella, a former president of the MLP, expressly said he was in agreement with Mr Brincat's view that there "should be no room for divisive and controversial figures" in the MLP's administration.

He added: "Joseph (Muscat)'s bold project is being put at risk by individuals who are too politically immature to realise that their very candidature damages the new leader.

There is still time to bow out with dignity and with honour.

This need not mean self-imposed exile from the party. On the contrary.

"With the full awareness of the moral responsibility of a former president of the party, I join Leo in his appeal to the delegates."