Tuesday, 5th August 2008 - 15:09CET
'I will be everyone’s general secretary' - Jason Micallef
Jason Micallef has promised to let bygones by bygones.
“As of now, I will look ahead. What happened in the past will remain in the past. I will forget all that was said about me during the campaign,” the newly re-elected MLP general secretary told timesofmalta.com.
He said he was very satisfied with the result. "With their strong vote the delegates have showed that they believe in me, and they feel that I still have a lot to offer as general secretary”.
Mr Micallef obtained 370 of the 837 valid votes cast yesterday, putting him comfortably ahead of the other three candidates.
He said that he met all 889 delegates during the campaign, some of them twice, and discussed with them the criticism he had been getting.
“I replied to the criticism internally - that is how things should be done.”
Asked about his relations with people in the party such as former deputy leader Michael Falzon, who had openly criticised him, Mr Micallef said: “I am everyone’s general secretary, including Michael Falzon’s... I am also Leo Brincat’s general secretary and whoever’s... What’s past is past, whatever was said about me is forgotten.”
He said the party now needed to look ahead and settle down to its party business because the people wanted a strong opposition and that was what interested the delegates. "The delegates want a party focused on policies, on the national interest, on finding ways to defend the workers."
On his role in the next five years, Mr Micallef said that it would be different than in the past five. He was now working with a new leadership and he looked forward to the first meeting of the administration to decide on how to proceed. He described his relations with the new administration as excellent.
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Comments
i wish to congratulate the congregation of dope delegates who voted for Jason, for being so "BLUE" and voting for him, thus in turn assuring another victory for the PN. I usually believed in the PN but truly I think that there needs to be a change in government cause PN is rusting inside as well. MLP could have been a good alternative for the next election for the people, but ONLY COULD HAVE BEEN. With Jason still there, I dont believe there is an alternative for the people, and PN will be victorious again.
Im just sorry for Dr Muscat himself, who might loose the next election, his first one as leader, and gives a bad image of himself, because of his GS who shall continue to contaminate the MPL. I believe that Muscat should challenge him, if he wants to protect HIS OWN reputation, ghax finalment fuqu tirrifletti.
You are welcome in the MLP family if you are so interested !!
How come most of the bloggers know so much on Jason Micallef . It seems that lot of people around here know a lot on the MLP too .
If NO, can you please comment on the weather it is better .
Because as DOM MINTOFF once said if we say that “ in the sky there is the sun” , you come and say “that is a cloud”
Don't count on a full house, the director is suffering from stage fatigue already.
He talks exactly as if he has been elected party leader, not secretary general.
He's so arrogant!
Labour is truly in a mess: this guy has got Joseph Muscat elected, and now himself and the others in his clique.
Who can stop him? (Joseph surely didn't!)
To think that in 5 years' time this guy could be the secretary general of the party in government!
MLP needed a change in the leader and now it is time to roll up their sleeves and get ready to work hard. Malta needs a good opposition party and now that MLP have a good leader I am very happy that I am Maltese. MLP must defend all workers and work hard for good conditions of all workers in Malta. Dr Muscat have to work more hard now that Jason Micallef is confirmed so that he reunites back the party and injects the new mentality needed to move forward.
Please don't forget anything that was said about you in the past, but remember not to do anything like that again! Keep it in your mind! There are lots of people who don't want you so don't be all smiling about.
Only ONE thing is expected from you dear jm.....RESIGN.....TODAY.
" I will be everyone's General Secretary " - Jason Micallef.
Judging from past experience, you should address those words to the MARINES, and not to MLP supporters.
Labours only hope, as was said by labour supporters is for the delegates who didn't vote for JM to declare a vote of no confidence against him. So how is it, only PN supporters are here, when there are floaters and MLP supporters as well.
Oh I forgot, since MLP has JM as their GS again, all labour supporters should be happy? So what the MLP supporters who didn't want JM back just disappeared?
Have you read the comments by MLP supporters....all they are saying "oh crap...sorry Joseph, you showed us hope for a short while". What typical ignorance.
secretary of the MLP, I still respect the intelligence of the delegates. As
I am reading the comments of so many individuals who had something to
say about Mr Micallef's reappointment, one particular question I want
to ask is "How did you (Jason) manage to get so many people against you,
people not only from the opposing party but also people who know you
well enough within the party? If I were in your shoes, no exuberant
salary would keep me in the post when I know that I am criticised openly by
so many people. If arrogance is your problem, then, start working on it. Start thinking twice before you speak and where you do not know enough,
ask. You need to learn how to become a better individual. Follow the example of your leader - those who contested with you for the post of a general secretary, try to involve
them. You know they are by far better qualified academically.I don't mean to hurt your feelings but if you need to be humbled, then so be it.
most of all these comments are coming from pn supporters, they were searching for a change of the MLP GS. I suggest you to stop wasting your time worrying about the GS of the MLP, is better to worry about your party.
WHO IS THE REAL PRIM MINISTER, Dr. Austin Gatt, John Dalli or JPO?
If Mr Micallef was elected with a small number of votes(370) with how many votes was elected Dr. Borg Olivier?
was it deal or no deal between Dalli and Saliba regarding Saliba's resignation from GS?
I am sure that you are worried because you are seeing that there is going to be a stronger team, the GS is not the MLP, he is part of the team, and I am convinced that Jason Micallef is going to be much better.
let bygones be bygones, this is a new team, these same writers before the last general election probably were saying that with Dr. Sant MLP will never win the general Election, now the tune has changed, with Jason we are going to stay in the opposition. They are forgetting that the leader is Dr. Joseph Muscat now.
On the other hand I'm desperate for a winning opposition, otherwise the balance of democracy is failing. We are effectively becoming a plutocracy. Come on labour! you owe it to this country! Build a team of good technocrats that guide your policy for the good of all the Maltese. We'll be watching for a strong re-birth, notwithstanding the blows thrown at Muscat by the delegates.
On the other hand I do not care for The Malta Labour Party or any party for that matter they are all the same Bla Bla Bla If you cannot sleep just listen to a politician at night waffling and you are instantly in dream land.
New labour! Ha!
Jason should stop being SO Rude and Arrogant as above... HE IS INSULTING OUR INTELLIGENCE........
As far as i am concerned, i will give no DONATIONS in any future Labour collections, SO LONG AS THERE IS THIS `MINORITY` MAN, as General Secretary.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SUBSIDIZING OF HIS ALREADY FAT SALARY..........
SORRY JOSEPH..
You are no one's gen. sec. you are just a balloon full of H2S.
Resign now as no one wants you apart from those dumb Ostriches who voted you again. You are the dismantler of the party. We were building some hope with the new leadership, but with your re-election all the dreams have gone up in fumes once again.
You are a let down!! Your arrogance is unmeasureable!! Joseph Muscat should have had the guts to kick your ass out. Or at least they should have given you a job as the plant caretaker of the headquarters.
Shame on you all.
I'm sure that Jason has learned his lesson from the unhappy event and his past experience in the last election , will contribute towards making him an excellent GS, just what Joseph needs to propell him to victory in 2013. Go for it man!
Perhaps Mr Bugeja can explain how the surcharge is the government's fault? Helllloooooo! Are you living in cloud cuckoo land?
Re the Public transport system. So you like the idea of being held hostage by a monopoly. As to the dry docks, this was a well known fact before the elections. In fact i seem to remember Super one TV having interviews with the Polish socialist MEPs who were (surprise, surprise) trying to stop similar things happening in Poland.
If you are comfortable seeing the country spending hard earned resources keeping a white elephant afloat, rather you then me chum!
Certain comments made by MLP high rank officials with respect to Jason Micallef backfired in the same way as they backfired when the MLP election campaign was partly based on character assassination. Hence the result.
NOW..........Let's hope that all politicians from both sides learn once and for all that attacking the person not the argument will only strengthen the person being attacked.
I am sure verbal mistakes made in the heat of the election will inspire a more mature attitude from the MLP GS.
One learns through one's mistakes but one does not need to do all the mistakes himself.
It will also be wise to stop and pray for Dr. Karl Kirkop in order for him to get well and unite with his family to be together again.
PN Media side with the contender which in their strategy mind think is the most potential adversary. Now the labour delegates (il hmir ta bendu) thinks that by electing the other contender would mean the PN Media is defeated.
Perfect examlple : PN media wanted Dr Muscat as a leader so they sided with Dr Abela. They wanted Jason Micallef so they sided with Mr Grixti.Very logical and works perfect with these Delegates.....Incredible but true.....
Everybody knows that with the tandem Dr Muscat and Mr Smiley there life is much more easier.......
Keep up the good work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are absolutely right ... all the workers you have mentioned, surcharge and a gamut of other things which continue to hurt BUT you know what??? These deficiencies within the Nationalist administration were there BEFORE 8 March 2008 ... and the Maltese electorate had all the chance in the world to remove PN from office ... but this never happened ... do you have a faint idea as to why?? You have given the answer in your very last comment .. yes its Sant's and Micallef's fault ... becuase we feel we would fare better with an administration that continues to tax us as against an administration which doesn't have the slighest clue as to where it's going. Would anybody feel comfortable with an administration that wasnt even capabale of publishing an electorla manifesto? And incidentally...whose responisibility was this publication. Was it Mr Micallef's?
Only 44.21% voted for Mr. Micallef which with Ex Leaders reasoning means that he does not enjoy the faith of the majority of the Party Delegates.
N.B. The other 55.79% does not even include those who abstained from voting or the dead.
INHOBBKOM HAFNA
In the end these are the same people who voted time and time again for Sant to be their leader nothwithstanding defeat after defeat , and if as they say history repeats itself, MLP is doomed to adorn the oppostion benches for a very long time....
Being a person with Labour leanings, this is a very sad day indeed, and the only thing I can do is cry.....
Why on earth did you run for office when you know the majority of the public does not want you? Are you brave, stubborn or obstinate or did you sweet talk to the delegates so they can vote you in?
You sure have guts!!!
Here are the significant changes:
Alfred Sant -> Joseph Muscat
Charles Mangion -> Anglu Farrugia
Michael Falzon -> Toni Abela
Joe Mifsud -> Alex Sciberras Trigona (this is significant since he is a CNI campaigner).
In my eyes this party has moved further from the political centre.. not really sure which way it has moved to but that's another story altogether.
The MLP has become a victim of the sheer ineptness of its delegates.
No thanks!!!!
bye bye MLP
To all those who this morning woke up disappointed after hearing the results – come and join us in the Nationalist Party. There is room for everyone, we believe in dialogue not in Klikkek! We believe in sharing not in Fortizzi and we work for the interest of our country not for out self pride!
Hail to all those delegates – grazzi :-)
So, let's look forward together to the next General Election, put differences behind us and work as a team to restore decent governance to these islands.
But after all I am not Jason
As for floaters MLP can wave them goodbye!
Nobody feels sorry for MLP now because they BLEW their chances to the wind and did it all by themselves!!!
In the long run they did Malta an injustice because we are heading for a one party state and the fault lies with the BRAINS who devised this FROGA!
Unfortunately GOOD men made themselves available, to bring about some sort of change, but they were rejected and ignored!
You made your bed! Now lie in it!
The labour delegates are forgetting that they get to choose their leader and the administration, BUT the Maltese people (the outsiders-as we were called during the extraordinary general meeting, by a speaker) choose the prime minister and the government,!!
and these delegates, do they represent (in a realistic portion) the different sectors of maltese people, such as sex, level of education and profession?
After all the Maltese people are made up of different levels of education, professions and age and different sex. And everyone's vote counts!!
I remember when Jason spoke about Dr.Alfred Sant on a T.V Program saying how Dr Sant called Jason Micallef when he was on holiday & wanted Jason to be by Dr.Sant's side the time he was operated on, he (JASON) said that Dr.Sant called him because he felt he was the closest person to him & Needed to speak with him,, Are they still best of pal's as we see another Dr.Sant in this party..
To all Labour Supporters thanks for another lost Election.
Well Done Jason.
Today it is a very sad day to the Malta Labour Party because our Karl is battling for life. I am really
disappointed with all these destructive comments towards Jason and some of the comments that PN will be forever in government and making equations that are unbelievable. I am sure that Jason and Micheal Falzon will arrange their differences for the good of the party. I am sure that everyone knows who was wright before the 8th March election. Tell the Shipyard workers, the GO workers, the Public Transport workers. All of you who will be paying a 95 percent surcharge till New Tarrifs will be implemented with more Surcharge included in the Water and Electricity bill. Oh Its Jason's and Sant's fault.
Situation now is that for floaters, the situation has literally remained as it was prior to March 2008. Can anybody enlighten me as to what real changes have taken place within the MLP. Same faces...just little cosmetics. Real pity ... as long as people like the present GS remain in the top posts within the MLP, I will refrain from ever daring give my vote to this party ever again.
Furthermore, actions speak louder than words. To be honest, I do not quite like certain actions by Mr. Micallef towards other Labourites.
Is this the way the Party intends inviteing all Labour supporters back into its fold?
you are always telling us how things should be done but it's very clear that you are a failure when it comes to your main objective that is taking the Labour party to win an election and that is what you get that fat salary for, imsomma Jason you are a Santist and that is the guarantee of a total failure like the past the present. The new leader will be a strong stallion for the next race but he already broke his leg and that handicap is you.
what a pity you remind me of Fenech Adami's photofinish phrase when i saw you on One news yellow faced claiming that the figures you have are different from Saliba's.
I want to give you a suggestion, please consider it seriously, stop that stupid smile and start working and begin with copying Saliba, he can teach you som tecqniques of how to win an election from a total failure.
GOOD LUCK Joseph
We wanted a new beginning in the Malta Labour Party. For me Jason Micallef is not part of the new beginning. He's a SKADUT.
What he has done in the last General Election Campaing was not a type of business what a General Secretary must do. Have we see Mr. Joe Saliba doing shame things like Mr. Micallef did? Obviously the answer is NO.
If you want us behind you Mr. Micallef you need to apologise to us Labour supporters and to those who have been offended from you in the last five years.
If you don't do this, you will be walking alone with no support from the Labour supporters.
So come on. Wake Up.
I'm sure that Dr Alfred Sant is smiling today. At the end it went his way... the leader of his choice + the secretary general of his choice = control of the MLP!
And he should learn from his mstakes of the past since next time we will not accept any more mistakes.
Inhobkom Hafna
AS I UNDERSTAND HIS DECLARATION IS CLEARLY ONE OF A PERSON WHO BELIEVES TO HAVE BEEN WRONGED AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF REMORSE FOR PAST CLASHES WITH THE LIKES OF GEORGE ABELA, MICHAEL FALZON, JIMMY MAGRO, LEO BRINCAT ETC.
JASON YOU SHOULD IMITATE YOUR LEADER AND LEARN TO EAT HUMBLE PIE. YOU NEED TO FIND THE COURAGE FIRST TO ADMIT YOUR PAST MISTAKES AND APOLOGISE FOR WHAT YOU SAID PUBLICLY AGAINST OTHERS IN YOUR OWN PARTY.
And what about what YOU said about other people Sur Micallef? Your insults to George Abela, Michael Falzon, Leo Brincat, Jimmy Magro and God knows who else will not be easily forgotten...least of all the insult to all Labour supporters when you ran away from the counting hall after boasting of a great victory.
Don't pretend to be the victim in this farce, NO-ONE believes you except the people who voted you back in.