Labour leader Joseph Muscat will assume his seat in the Maltese parliament this week. Ivan Camilleri caught up with him on his last day as an MEP in Brussels.

How would you describe your time as an MEP?

It was a great experience which taught me a lot. I've learnt to listen more. I've learnt the way you can still score political points without confrontation and personalising issues. I've learnt what politics of ideas means.

What will you take to the Maltese parliament?

Although they are two different institutions, I think I will take with me the open mentality of Brussels. I'd also like to have a more inclusive type of parliament where all members feel they are participating in the debate.

Did the EP change you?

Yes, I think so. I've become more of a listener and I've also learnt the art of compromise. Here (in Brussels) you realise that you can never exactly have your way.

Have your personal thoughts about Malta's membership in the EU changed?

Yes. I realised that despite coming from a small country you can still have an influence and make a difference if you create the right networks. I realised that if you make the right contacts your voice can be bigger and stronger than where you come from. I admit that on this thing I was wrong.

Before coming to Brussels you campaigned strongly against Malta's accession to the EU. Do you admit now that you were wrong?

First of all I wasn't alone. There were also others like me who today are very pro-Europe. When Tony Blair entered politics for the first time he campaigned for the UK's withdrawal from the EU. One of the best visionary speeches on Europe I've heard in my four-year stint as an MEP was from Blair. I admit that with hindsight, the 'yes' vote in the referendum won and that we were wrong on certain issues. However, on others, like the future of the shipyards and agriculture, we were spot-on.

How do you evaluate the work done by the other Maltese MEPs?

I think all of us, with no exception, made an impact. I believe that we could have worked better together but this was a learning experience which our successors will build upon. But, when you evaluate everything, we've done a good job. A case in point is Louis Grech who did a sterling job when he was given the Budget dossier - one of the most important in the EP. He made me proud to be Maltese.

What about Simon Busuttil?

I admired him. He had the courage to take positions which he believed in but which weren't compatible with his own party's position. On the other hand, he could have paid more attention to ensuring that certain issues were solved and not merely put in the PN's electoral programme.

And David Casa?

Despite the fact that he wasn't very complimentary in his comments about me lately, I think that he was effective in the fisheries sector.

What about John Attard Montalto?

He managed to penetrate the difficult foreign affairs dimension of the EP and he has built up quite a reputation especially regarding the Caucasus region.

But the MLP doesn't seem to be very happy with Dr Attard Montalto's performance.

John is going to be one of the best elements in our next MEP elections.

Would you prefer it if he were not elected?

I am not going to answer that. It's only Lawrence Gonzi who says who he would have liked to be his general secretary. I'd like to leave it up to the electorate to decide.

What would be a good result for the MLP at the next MEP elections?

It will be a very difficult election for the MLP. Whoever's thinking it will be a walkover is completely wrong.

You will be going to the polls during the first year of a new administration. It's always the best scenario for the opposition and the worst for a government.

It will be difficult for us since we will be passing through substantial changes in the MLP's internal structures. These changes will be massive and will also be traumatic for certain people. There will be resistance to change and so the party will not be completely focused on these elections. The PN will not discard these elections and will do its utmost to win. The next Budget will also be conceived taking into consideration this scenario, rest assured.

What is your target at next June's elections?

To get the best possible result.

That is not an answer.

To get the best possible result.

I want to know what your target is.

You can't compare.

You can make a comparison to 2004 when Labour won a three-seat majority.

It's not the same. It will be the first election for the MLP to campaign on a pro-European platform. There are people in the party who are not comfortable at all with this and we will have to convince them that we are doing the right thing.

Will the MLP also have euro-sceptical candidates on its list?

Anyone who wants to be on our ticket has to conform to our policy which is in favour of Malta's place as a member of the EU.

Will you field euro-sceptics?

Our candidates have to have our principles.

What about euro-sceptic Sharon Ellul Bonici?

She said she would like to be a candidate. Obviously, she first needs to be approved by the general conference and the executive of the party. What is sure is that there is no compatibility between our principles and any other relationship with a party which does not form part of the Socialist Group in the EP.

You know very well that Ms Ellul Bonici works for the euro-sceptics in the EP.

She cannot continue doing that if she wants to become an MLP candidate. This is clear.

Have George Abela and Marlene Mizzi confirmed their candidacy?

I would like them to contest.

Are they contesting?

Wait and see.

How will your move into the Maltese parliament affect you?

On the positive side I will definitely have more time to be with my family and children. This is something I really missed, being in Brussels. On the other hand, I don't want to enter into the vicious circle of how people outside parliament think the opposition should act inside parliament. This is a culture change I want to instil. I want to look at both sides of parliament as two entities with a common objective.

You are taking Joe Cuschieri's seat. Why Cuschieri's?

He was the first one to offer before I became leader. If no one offered to relinquish his seat for me, I wouldn't have contested in the first place. He kept insisting even after my election.

But what is Cuschieri getting in return?

He realised that ideals come before personal interests. I know that this is something rare in politics and difficult to understand. However, this is not the first time that such a thing happened in our party.

What is he getting?

He didn't ask for anything but I'm doing my utmost to find him an alternative job. Parliament was his only means of income.

Will you be giving him a well-paid job within the party?

I want him to have an alternative job and we are not excluding the private sector.

Are you saying that you didn't strike a deal with him before this move?

I am saying that I told him that I would help him to find an alternative job.

Does this include a job with the MLP?

I don't exclude it.

So he left for a better deal not because of ideals...

I don't think he left to get a better job than an MP's.

Is it true that the MLP will also give Cuschieri cash compensation?

No... That's false.

Do you agree that the time has come for Maltese politicians not to be considered part-timers any longer?

I think that the time has come to take an in-depth look at the whole structure of the Maltese parliament and how MPs work. One of the things I will miss most is the facilities provided by the European Parliament so that MEPs can do their job properly.

What about remuneration? Don't you think that MPs and politicians should start receiving a decent salary for their work?

I think there has to be a wide discussion over this but I believe that it's not the right time to do that. Malta is passing through a difficult phase where many families are struggling.

Do you agree that politicians are not paid well?

I am more worried about the situation we have where ministers and other politicians with responsibilities are paid much less than their subordinates. This is an anomaly. But honestly, I don't think that this is the right time to increase the salaries of politicians.

What about the long-term?

I think that we have reached a stage where if you are in politics and carry certain responsibilities, you should be financially compensated for that. This would also reduce any temptation of corruption.

When you were elected you told the electorate the MLP would go through an earthquake. We haven't felt a tremor yet.

There is already a big change in the party's attitude. We are being much more positive. The party was never as united as it is today. We are now reacting more and putting our proposals on the table. For example, until some time ago no one would have imagined that the MLP would come out with a reaction to the rent reform White Paper.

By 'earthquake' I was referring to the internal structures of the MLP.

A change in attitude is more important than anything else. On the other hand, we are also working to start changing the structures. A CEO has been employed and we have also set up a commission to come up with proposals for structural changes.

You mentioned before that these changes might affect some people traumatically. This is a rather strong use of language.

I was referring to people who have gotten used to working in a certain post or manner for years and who will have to go through a complete change. The necessary changes won't be small or cosmetic. So this will obviously lead to some anxiety among certain people.

Is Jason Micallef one of those people?

A lot of people will accept the changes needed. I am convinced that many will collaborate.

I am asking you specifically about Jason Micallef.

I hope that there will be a lot of people who accept changes.

I'm asking you about Jason...

... And I am telling you that I hope that many accept the changes.

Does that mean that Jason Micallef will be affected?

The changes won't exclude any post, including my own position... substantial changes.

Will One journalists also be affected?

With regards to One, we have already started working on a new code of ethics which should be ready soon. I'm also going to see that new structures will be set up. Another thing is that the station's newsroom will move to Marsa since I don't believe that news should come out of a party's headquarters. This should also contribute to a change in mentality.

Is it true that some journalists are opposing this move?

There will always be resistance to change.

But will this move still happen?

Definitely.

Following the last MLP defeat at the polls many described your party as a party of cliques. Do such cliques still exist?

I am seeing a lot of unity in the party. I don't think that this is happening because of me but because there is a new sense of looking forward within the party.

Do you agree that cliques are still present?

I think that there are different currents which try to influence and resist change. However, I will see that change will take place.

What about your authority within the party? Does the election of individuals like Jason Micallef, Toni Abela, Anġlu Farrugia and Alex Sciberras Trigona reflect that you have no authority?

If other people were elected there would have been accusations that the party machine was working. I don't want a one-minded party which thinks and acts only according to its leader. I want a party of ideas. What I want most is to have better structures.

But do you have control over your party?

Definitely. But not in the autocratic sense.

How would you describe the current government?

The government has a big problem of credibility. What was said before the election is different from what is being said today by the same people. The Prime Minister personally has a problem of credibility. Look what is happening with the shipyards or on the surcharge, for example. We have a two-faced government.

It seems that you and Austin Gatt don't get on very well.

I think that he is a minister who can deliver but he is very arrogant and thinks that everyone will do what he says because he shouts and stamps his feet. He is the classroom bully.

Do you think that Lawrence Gonzi is a difficult opponent?

Yes, and very difficult. He has managed to win an election against all odds. He is a good speaker and knows how to rally people behind him. Whoever underestimates Dr Gonzi is very mistaken. It would be a big mistake if we think that the next general election will be a walkover. It will be a very difficult election for the MLP to win.

What in your view are the biggest challenges facing Malta?

We need to be more competitive. This is the key to the development of our country. This is the only way our economy will develop. We have to do this within the framework of the EU, which is also a challenge in itself.