MLP in labour

Labour Party delegates will have much to mull over as they choose the general secretary. The party has a deputy leader to look after its affairs. The general secretary essentially administers the party. Were the delegates making a totally objective consideration, they would evaluate the managerial profile of the candidates. That would put Joe Vella Bonnici easily on top, followed by Alfred Grixti. Both have a lot of managerial experience under their belt, certainly more than enough to put incumbent Jason Micallef well in the shade. But such decisions are never taken purely objectively.

Objectively speaking, Mr Micallef would be out. The post-election analysis for the MLP was damning in his regard. But he has considerable support, including from what is rather pompously termed "the party machine". He has detractors, too. Michael Falzon, former deputy leader for party affairs, is the main one. He showed that in a missive telling delegates why he would not be voting for Mr Micallef, a retort to another letter, signed by veteran Labourite George Carbone, advising delegates why they should root for the sitting general secretary.

More telling than Dr Falzon's reaction was the incursion by Leo Brincat. Not given to exuberant manifestations, the lance he levelled at an easily-identifiable Mr Micallef was all the more lethal for that. A further strong incursion in the media was from another Labour veteran, Charles Buttigieg, of Mellieħa. Interestingly enough, negative assessments were not matched by open positive thrusts for other contenders but The Sunday Times yesterday transposed Mr Vella Bonnici to its headlines for the first time, reporting surging support for him.

It will be a close race, with Mr Micallef benefiting from a perception that the leadership backs him. I do not think that it actually does. But perception has weight. The opposition to Mr Micallef is still split three ways and that will help him. What will not help him is his record on the eve of and after the general election, in advance of and during the MLP leadership contest. Delegates who initially voted for George Abela and Dr Falzon will not forget that.

The possible outcomes suggest different platforms for Labour going forward. If Mr Vella Bonnici or Mr Grixti becomes general secretary, the new man will not play up front, seeking publicity. He will spend the bulk of his time administering the party and its affairs. Parties, nowadays, are small conglomerates. They require focused management by the rough equivalent of an able CEO.

Should Mr Micallef remain in office, he will find it substantially altered. Toni Abela will want to stress his authority within the division of labour between the two MLP deputy leaders. He will not allow Mr Micallef free rein. Much less will the leader do that. Joseph Muscat has an engaging smile. His core, however, is by no means soft. Nor is he devoid of shrewdness. In this scenario he would see to it that Mr Micallef's wings are clipped.

The third man in the leadership, its number two, actually, will stand for no nonsense, either. Anġlu Farrugia is clearly reining in his natural exuberance. But both his political calculation regarding the next general election and his intra-party role will make him keep a sharp eye out for any new antics.

It will take more time and hard details to assess the balance of the overall Labour leadership. There are five years of that to get to the general election but good leadership will want to ensure that not a day of the long haul is wasted.