Tuesday, 26th August 2008
Labour's future
I belong to the losing generation of Labourites. The general election defeats of 1998, 2003 and 2008 have been bitter pills to swallow but, unfortunately, that is the reality faced by all Labourites today. In the past, I sometimes reflected on how tough it must have been for those Nationalist activists who lived through the years 1971-87, little realising that I myself would eventually go through the same experience! To work hard for your political party and yet taste defeat, again and again, is indeed tough.
I am convinced, however, that the Malta Labour Party can rise from the ashes of three consecutive defeats to win the next general election. To do so will require hard work, sheer determination and the avoidance of mistakes which play into the hands of one's political adversaries. Certain changes are also needed if victory is to become a reality.
Alfred Sant is no longer leading the MLP. Several people blame him for Labour's three consecutive defeats. I believe that this is not true and that Dr Sant will be vindicated by future historians who will view his contribution to Labour's development as very positive.
The past is the past, however, so what about the present and the future? Let me start with the new Labour leader, Joseph Muscat. He is proving to be a great asset to Labour. Youthful, charismatic, an excellent speaker, moderate and realistic in his approach to politics, I am sure that he appeals to many prospective voters, especially the younger generation of Maltese. One has to admit, however, that Dr Muscat's positive qualities by themselves will not be enough to win Labour the next election.
In 2013, Dr Muscat will have to face the same problem that Dr Sant faced in 2008, i.e. the power of incumbency. Let's face it, many Maltese are highly influenced by what they stand to personally gain if a particular political party is elected to power. I recently wrote about this online and I stand by my argument: Yes, many people consider personal gain above all other things when voting. Call it "clientelism" or what you like, this phenomenon is common among supporters of all political parties but the political party in government has an enormous advantage over its adversaries.
What can Dr Muscat do about this? Absolutely nothing! Which means that Labour's task over the next five years is a herculean one but not impossible. It simply boils down to this: The Nationalists can afford a few mistakes and still win because the odds are stacked in their favour but Labour's performance has to be impeccable to even stand a chance of winning.
Furthermore, a characteristic of the last general election defeat has to be avoided like the plague. I am referring to misinterpreting the results of local council elections and even those of the European Parliament elections. Personally, I have always thought that Labour spends too much time and energy on local council matters and reads too much into the results of local council elections.
Let's be frank, many Nationalist voters are ready to vote against the PN as long as a change of the party in government is not on the cards. To a lesser extent, the same applies in the case of the European Parliament elections. I do hope, therefore, that next year we Labourites will not start once again deluding ourselves that we are on our way to Castille if we win the local council and European Parliament elections. To use a soccer analogy, for several years we have mistaken winning some pre-season friendlies to winning the Premier League Championship! A change of psychology is needed to win. What we Labourites think, the speeches we listen to at our own general conferences, what our own columnists write, should be of little importance to us.
We should be concerned, above all, about what the people in the street are saying, what our political adversaries are disseminating as propaganda, what youths and first-time voters are saying about us.
I remember once attending a general conference where the enthusiasm among the delegates was overwhelming: Singing of the party anthem, continuous clapping and standing ovations. Then I returned to everyday life and realised that such occasions are deceptive and illusory. It's what others think and feel about us that counts and not what we Labourites think and feel about ourselves!
I believe that with the reforms in the MLP's structure and organisation that Dr Muscat will be implementing, Labour will go into the next general election at a slight disadvantage compared to the Nationalists. Victory will only be possible with the right frame of mind, the right approach and impeccable campaigning.
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Comments
Many of us vote PN because it seems that the MLP cannot get one thing right, not even internally. They always seems to mess about everything, the EU issue, the surcharge promise, and now we have the 16 year old voters.
Many of us, disillusioned with the way local councils are being led, were expecting Gonzi or JM to declare that political parties will pull out of LCs and let councillors work for the benefit of the locality on not their policitical party. Instead, as if there is not enough politics on our island, we get JM proposing that 16 year olds should have a right to vote and participate in LCs and be as a measure to strenghten LCs. Unbelievable!
The fact is that bis-sewwa jew bid dnewwa, PN administrations have always been lead by capable leaders who ultimately manage to steer the country forward, instead of messing about.
Joseph has said that he is willing to make our pain his own. No one can live for me. Joseph can only share our sufferring for what we went through - the arson that almost destroyed our lives and the multitude of falsehoods over the years, encouraged, if not instigated by, the former leadership.
Depending on who writes it, History, to whom Desmond appeals, can be an unprejudiced judge but who needs justice six feet below the ground?
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Finally, Labour should first and foremost have core people that agree on the basics. How can Labour function properly if it has prima-donnas that don’t even agree on something as straightforward as being members of European, and European policy?!
"Let me start with the new Labour leader, Joseph Muscat. ...... One has to admit, however, that Dr Muscat's positive qualities by themselves will not be enough to win Labour the next election."
However you started with J Muscat and that's where it all ended. You could not take it further. You know very well that you cannot mention any other names you feel comfortable with, can you?
If you do believe in your party and wish for it to govern some day please get real and start poking at what you want to see changed. I fail to understand how anyone who has been through so many defeats can write an article today about 'Labour's Future' without criticizing the likes of J Micallef, A Farrugia, T Abela and A Scib Trigona.
If columnists like yourself fail to target the big names within the party's flag bearing posse I really doubt how the party can move forward. The problem is not about winning the next election but it is about ensuring a strong MLP in opposition or government.
The current MLP set up is a bitter pill to swallow.