Herman Grech
Scicluna, Grech and Mizzi are MLP's 'preferred' candidates
Edward Scicluna, Louis Grech and Marlene Mizzi have been earmarked as the Labour Party's frontrunners for the European Parliament elections in June.
In an attempt to reach out to moderates, the MLP will be pushing an economist, a serving MEP, and the former Sea Malta chairman, sources close to the party told The Sunday Times.
Former Labour leader Alfred Sant and deputy leader George Abela will not put their names forward to contest on the MLP ticket, as applications close today.
The party executive will eventually sift through the list in an attempt to field a wide spectrum of candidates for the June election, which will be new Labour leader Joseph Muscat's first electoral test.
"It's going to be about quality, not quantity," one party official said.
Prof. Scicluna, 62, who was personally approached to contest by Dr Muscat, has enjoyed the confidence of successive Labour and Nationalist administrations through his appointments in key positions.
Other Labour Party applicants so far include MEPs Glenn Bedingfield and John Attard Montalto, Maria Camilleri (who recently rejoined the party's ranks after severing ties with Dr Sant), journalist Claudette Baldacchino, Kyrill Micallef Stafrace, Steve Borg, Sharon Ellul Bonici and Christian Zammit, a Gozitan lawyer.
With seven months to go to the European elections, several individuals have already started campaigning, especially through social network sites like Facebook, even though their candidature has not yet been confirmed.
9 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Chris Tanti
Dec 1st 2008, 08:06
Whilst it is good that the PL is emphasizing on quality, I am not happy that Profs. E. Scicluna decided to enter the political battlefield. As a respected economist from both sides of the political spectrum, I believe he would better serve the country in a strategic and neutral position. Partisian politics automatically lessen the credibility of these otherwise reputable professionals.
Kenneth Busuttil
Dec 1st 2008, 01:41
It's all about quality and not quantity! Whether approached by Labour Leader Joseph Muscat or because they believe in themselves, all mentioned candidates can offer a good service to the country. I believe in our candidates and I'm sure that the administration and the national executive of the Labour Party will choose the best qualities. We need socialists like Maria Camilleri to join the PES (European Socialists Group) and work in the best interests of Malta. Joseph Muscat was an excellent example who worked hard for a social Europe. He managed to come up with good results for our workers and families! I wish all the best to all Labour candidates!
Kenneth Busuttil
Labour Delegate
Willie Grech
Nov 30th 2008, 23:03
I tend to agree with those who said that there is no harm in being approached by the party leader to contest any election. In fact, I know that there were more people who were personally approached by Joseph. So what?
On the other hand, I do not agree with those who argue that the three people mentioned in this article are the PL's most heavyweight candidates. Although I do agree that these three will give more quality to the PL's line up.
In my book, what gives more weight to a candidate is his/her perseverance! And one Sharon Ellul Bonici certainly has it all. She came back from being an outcast of the ex MLP to be one of the strongest possibles for the PL, not only because of her experience within the European Parliament but also because she is young, versatile and has a fantastic personality.
muscat inglott
Nov 30th 2008, 20:57
apart from being heavywieghts for this election i am more convinced that this country need the experience of these three persons . No doubt that these are a must for this cause and every party would be jealous and wish to have this line up on his ballot . These are persons that this country needs to push in europe and for sure they will good assets for the european socialists group .
Definitely that even the pn would have good contenders as the labour have apart from these three but for sure that these are must for our politics .
Goodluck guys and well done to joseph that he managed to get them on board
alfred agius
Nov 30th 2008, 20:47
Jason Spiteri
Pn candidates for the general election have in the past confirmed that they were approached and encouraged by party leadership to contest the general election on behalf of the pn.
What`s wrong in approaching prospective candidates fot the european parliament elections? You must be envious of Labour`s line-up for the european parliament election, hence your comment. None of the your party`s euro parliament hopefuls measures with Labour`s line-up. We understand your preoccupations, Jason.
Kirill Micallef Stafrace
Nov 30th 2008, 20:18
@simon
very true, candidates such as them are a must for any party that wants to better itself. It is with individuals such as these that the political credibility of the PL will increase in stature.
@Jason
:)
SIMON AMATO
Nov 30th 2008, 15:41
THIS IS QUALITY!!. 3 BIG ASSETS FOR THE PL. I DONT WANT TO COMMENT AT ALL AS SOME PEOPLE MAY KNOW MY SYMPATHY TO A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE:). BUT ITS NOT CONTESTED THE FACT THAT THE PL NEEDS TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE MARLENE MIZZI PROFS SCICLUNA AND LOUIS GRECH ON ITS LIST. A VERY VALID PERSONS. THESE CANDIDATES CAN HELP THE PL TO GAIN MORE VOTES FROM FLOATERS AND UNHAPPY NATIONALISTS.
Jason Spiteri
Nov 30th 2008, 14:18
Approached personally by the leader.
Wow.
How inspiring to have politicians who are running to please the leader, rather than shallower reasons such as, say, personal ambition.
Kirill Micallef Stafrace
Nov 30th 2008, 11:56
Just some points:
My name is spelt KIRILL
I am a medical doctor and senior lecturer at the UOM
A number of prospective PL MLP candidates were personally approached by leader Dr Joseph Muscat, including myself.