Matthew Xuereb
MLP to become Partit Laburista
Labour delegates approve new party name
Deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, Anġlu Farrugia (left) conversing with party leader Joseph Muscat during yesterday's conference. Photo: Jason Borg
Labour Party delegates yesterday unanimously approved the re-naming of the party from The Workers' Party - Malta Labour Party to Partit Laburista, abbreviated as PL.
The delegates also approved a change to the party's emblem which however did not discard the torch that was seen by Paul Boffa, the first Labour Prime Minister, as representing progress and a guiding light.
The party's conference, with the title Progressivi (progressives), was convened to discuss proposals for a wide-ranging change to the party's statute. The three-day conference will come to an end tomorrow morning.
Addressing yesterday's session, deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Anġlu Farrugia said the progressive element meant the party had to renew itself. The Nationalist Party in government was seen more like a "rightist regime", he noted.
The deputy leader said the Labour parliamentary group was confident that, with Joseph Muscat at the helm, the party would achieve its goals.
Repeating what he has been saying since the general election in March - that he knows of votes that were bought by the PN to win the election - Dr Farrugia said he had documentation to prove that the PN stole the election and the Labour Party was ready to publish it.
Malta still had no Data Protection Commissioner, three months after the person occupying the post passed away. He read out an SMS from a disgruntled employee of the Data Protection office who said he was fed up at work and wanted to leave.
This, according to Dr Farrugia, meant that this employee was fed up of the PN's interference and it wanted to control him and the office.
Talking of injustices, Dr Farrugia said people who won cases against the government were owed a remedy and until then the government could expect no favours from the Labour Party in opposition, not even pairing.
The party's other deputy leader, Toni Abela, compared the Labour Party to a ship that entered the Drydocks for renovation and will now begin its voyage, with its final destination being Castille.
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Jerome Attard
Nov 30th 2008, 20:53
Aside from the admittedly seemingly superficial changes such as in the name and in the party emblem, these may be signs that there will be real change in the Labour Party. I cannot understand why this constitutes an issue for some, I dare to assume that they rather be occupied with such nonsensical arguments than with the real argument of a party in government that promised paradise and is delivering hell.
We want change, give us a real choice and when the time comes we will make a decision. Pity that the time for this choice is a long way away, but we can be patient, stoic and withstand all the arrogant atrocities until we get to participate in a 5 yearly democracy.
Until then, let us hope that all those who feel that they can change for the better actually do so, and I'm not just referring to the Labour Party here.
chis borg
Nov 29th 2008, 18:28
pn= public nuisance...ah no sorry pn is not a nuisance....some commentators down here are though!
Joseph Caruana
Nov 29th 2008, 18:15
A bad apple is spoiled in the inside...
a brincat
Nov 29th 2008, 17:19
PL = Public Losers!!!
D Attard
Nov 29th 2008, 16:33
@ M Brincat
That's because the P in both acronyms stands for "partit". You see? Not very difficult. :)
M. Brincat
Nov 29th 2008, 14:57
pl? does it sound like pn??
Chris Borg
Nov 29th 2008, 14:50
Why is The Times focusing on the less-important changes while ignoring the more important ones like the quota of 40% reserved for the two genders, election of the leader by Party members, abolition of the Vigilance Board etc etc etc ?
SIMON AMATO
Nov 29th 2008, 14:26
R.FORMOSA IS IT A COSMETIC CHANGE THAT MEMBERS WILL VOTE FOR THE NEW COMING LEADER??? HOPE PN DO THE SAME!!. COME ON LETS GROW AND SAY THAT PL UNDER JOSEPH MUSCAT IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WHICH IT REALLY URGENTLY NEEDS.JOSEPH IS A DYNAMIC LEADER WHICH IM CONVICED THAT HE CAN MAKE IT!. PROSIT JOSEPH AND FINALLY PROSIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER TOO:). GD JOB MR JASON BORG
R. Formosa
Nov 29th 2008, 12:39
I am amazed at how the MLP (oops sorry..the PL) can think about such insignificant changes. does it really matter how they are called and their emblem? not really. maybe they're trying to get money out of it for the next election. anything with MLP (rather than PL) and the old emblem will have to be changed, like flags, banners, etc. Good luck MLP/PL supporters, they're already counting your money.
Victor Buhagiar
Nov 29th 2008, 12:32
What's in a name? as Shakespeare so aptly put it?
Joseph ZAmmit
Nov 29th 2008, 10:47
PL = Public Liability.