PL abolishing post of General Secretary

Mario Azzopardi

Jan 15th 2010, 18:15

Don't worry the end of the world is near. We will survive with or without a PL General secretary.

J.Cauchi

Jan 15th 2010, 17:20

R.Caruana----Tad-dahq kif certa nies meta jiccaqlaq Muscat johorgu bil-kanuni jghidulna allahares jitla Muscat.......Heqq x'nista nghidlek Sinjur/a Caruana jekk inti kuntenta bi gvern li dahaq bik qed jidhaq bik u jrid ikompli jidhaq bik ghamel int.....paxxih u capcaplu... anzi meta jasal il-mument bhal naghga bla vuci biex ma nghidx bla xi haga ohra mur ivvotalu. Jien, il-familja tieghi u hafna minn shabi inkluz nies li ma kienux jaraw ghajn m'ghajn mal-MLP habba Dottor Sant m'ahniex ha naghmlu l-istess....boloh m'ahniex ta !!

C Pace

Jan 15th 2010, 17:09

@ Vince Calleja

Int gej bic-cajt il-lejla jew? Tiftakru certu richard Muscat? Tiftakar meta l-PN kien juza r-radio u t-TV biex izomm id-demokrazija hajja f'pajjizna? Tiftakar li dan kien eziljat l-Italja? Illum tant kullhadd dara jghix fid-demokrazija li qed niehdu kollox forgranted.

Giovann Said

Jan 15th 2010, 16:13

Kull darba li jitkellem Mario Azzopardi jaqbadni d-dahk!

Aqra ftit il-kont tad-dawl u l-ilma u tara kemm jibqaghlek mohh x'qed jaghmel il-Partit Laburista! In-nies mill-kont jimpurtahom u mela mill-kariga ta' SG tal-PL!

Nahseb li 35,000 vot fl-elezzjoni ta' Gunju 2009 ma kinux bizzejjed ghal Gonzi biex jiehu t-taghlima! Tibza' xejn Mario ta... biex inziduhom ma rridux wisq!!

J Brincat

Jan 15th 2010, 13:40

Following the recent appointments within the PL the role of the General Secretary has became superfluous.

The new structure is now more flat and therefore more effective. This is in line with modern management.

Mario Azzopardi

Jan 15th 2010, 13:32

Why bother. The next election will be held on saturday 24 th November 2012. It will be won by the PL. Dr Muscat will have less than a month until D-Day in office. The 1th December 2012 will see us of with an earthquake. Bidu Gidid mal Lejber!!

R Caruana

Jan 15th 2010, 12:40

mammia mia x'tahwid! Vera l-kaz li kif kien qal Evarist Bartolo 'Fil-Labour aktar ma l-affarijiet jinbidlu aktar jibqu l-istess!"

Is this the best that Joseph can come up with?! God forbids this guy ever gets his way to Castille!

A. Mamo

Jan 15th 2010, 11:55

We heard PN apologists saying that this never happened in Malta. We also never heard of MizziPN, Borg OlivierPN, FenechAdamiPN. But everyone heard of GonziPN. What always happens in Malta is politicians promising everything to everyone before the general elections. What always happens in Malta is politicians telling us that they can't keep their promises because of lack of funds. So what? Is not there always the first time? At least Joseph promised an earthquake within his own party and whether you like it or not he is doing exactly what he promised. Keep up the good work Joseph. You are a leader per excellence cause you lead not follow.

rodnick abdilla

Jan 15th 2010, 09:41

Leaders are there to lead not to follow, and joseph is leading not following any one .

Vince Calleja

Jan 15th 2010, 09:22

Why are you saying that Muscat is putting everything in his hands and portaying him as a modern dictator? Have you forgotten the Deputy Leader for Party Affairs? The same people used to make fuss about the same party of having two deputy leaders!!!

I am sure some time will pass and PN will follow... like the radio, TV, mobile...etc The PN used to make fun of these things...

Anthony Mizzi

Jan 14th 2010, 20:50

Now we'll wait for some P.N. Copycat to copy the idea and make it his own.

Joseph does have a way of being avant garde in local politics and his foresight matched by his overseas political; experience fall in with the vision of Malta in the 21st century.

Well done Joseph, and I feel you are wise enough not to take heed from opinionists from the Gonzipn camp stating that it is the wrong decision to take...or maybe it is - for them.

m farrugia

Jan 14th 2010, 17:11

hawwadi ha nifhmek, l-ewwel tellghu lil Jason bi hgarhom wara li mlielhom rashom li se jaghtu tkaxkira lil PN u baghathom ipaqpqu, mbaghad warrbuh biex ikompli imexxi l-aqwa stazzjon tal pajjiz!!, issa tajru l-posizjoni wkoll!

Peter Bonnici

Jan 14th 2010, 15:59

This was the biggest 'quake' so far in the PL, caused by someone who didn't want a part in it.

joe portelli

Jan 14th 2010, 15:54

@angelo falzon and karl abela

watch out of this man,he is increaseing his support more than you think.

Mike Magri

Jan 14th 2010, 13:48

D. Ellul... Very Well Said.. Agree with you 100%. The Labour Party has a Deputy Leader Party Affairs and thus the Labour Party don`t need a `Political` general secretary fo put his nose in EVERY little party affair as well, but an Administrative one only.

Good Show Joseph..

MSchembri

Jan 14th 2010, 13:26

Interesting how we're on about the 'PL '....what's up with 'MLP'- has the change of name strategy worked well for all to forget the bygone days when PL was called Malta Labour Party , torca in hand? Oh, yes the leader of the opposition is clever enough to make anyone believe that it's a new party and 'he's the man' . His lack of leadership is now called company restructure . Clever boy.

Karl Abela

Jan 14th 2010, 12:35

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to labour's new policy.

NOONE is better than SOMEONE.
Sitting quietly and doing NOTHING is better than doing SOMETHING.

Labour has always enjoyed the support of the majority of the population.....as long as they stood still. This was the case prior to the last general election campaign. When they started campaigning they lost chunks of support in a matter of 2 weeks.

D Ellul

Jan 14th 2010, 12:11

Joseph Muscat comes from the private sector and this is normal practice in every company to restructure. In modern organisations top posts are being reduced making companies more dynamic. We all know that the roles of the deputy leader party affairs and general secretary overlapped and it is a good decision to abolish one of the posts. If anything this exercise is further proof of a Labour Party that is renewing itself. Keep it up.

Keith Davis

Jan 14th 2010, 12:07

I don't blame the party for abolishing a post which made more harm then good.

Certainly, the PL leader is trying to clear all the negative attributes the party made to itself.

L.Coleiro

Jan 14th 2010, 11:12

Better no one then having to stick with a PBO

G. Mangion

Jan 14th 2010, 11:02

GOOD MOVE DOWNHILL JOE KEEP IT UP !!

Mark Galea

Jan 14th 2010, 10:12

we had GonziPN
now we also have MuscatPL

we had Red Touch
now we have Ping

but who was first, the chicken or the egg?

J.Borg

Jan 14th 2010, 07:43

First we hear PN and it's bloggers say that PL has too many posts, and now that the PL structure is changing, we hear them say that isn't correct.
The role of the Deputy Leader party affairs has long been in question and hence Joseph Muscat is doing the right thing in passing most of the duties of the past secretary general to the deputy leader and also to the party president.
Also, since when that things cannot be changed in an organisation. We heard PN apologists saying that this never happened in Malta. So What! There's always a first time for everything.
Lastly i beg to say but why all the shedding of tears because the PL isn't going to have the heading of Secretary General in it's adminsitration.
Also, how is it that now the PN is lauding Jason Micallef!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B. vella

Jan 14th 2010, 02:54

Well Done Dr Joseph Muscat !! Good Move !!!

C.camilleri

Jan 13th 2010, 22:47

@ pn apologists

Since when do you have the PL best interest at heart? Thanks but your advice is not appreciated. Share your wisdom and know it all attitude with the PN.

josephine fenech

Jan 13th 2010, 21:47

Dear Angelo Falzon, I admire you because if anything your are TOO loyal. Cause I am PN (you can say ex-PN) cause with all the of things Gonzipn promised me and all the voters never did he mention that he was going to make us pay so much for bad decisions. SORRY I am not so gulible anymore hope you open your mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 21:05

@ L. Cutajar

What were you thinking? The role of General Secretary will be fulfilled by Deputy Leader Party Affairs. Similarly the post of Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism will soon be upgraded to that of Minister.

Mario Bonnici

Jan 13th 2010, 20:59

@ L.Cutajar
Have you read the article?!
The Deputy Leader for Party Affairs will be taking some of the responsabilities of the General Secretary. Together with the Party President.

Good decision from Dr. Joseph Muscat.
The PL had too many posts.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 20:58

Organograms for Corporate and Political Party structures are not written on stone, they are made to fill the relative roles in accordance to the requirements of the particular institution during the time. Life changes every day and if we do not move with it we will stagnate. Since its beginning Labour had been progressive and pragmatic in its approach to manage the party and unlike the PN each and every statute change was always preceded by a vote at the General Conference.

As to the designation of General Secretary the role varies according to the management structure of a political party. The Italian model structured the role of General Secretary as the leader of the party. The American system does not elect a Leader of the party to become President of the USA.

I can foresee the usual Gonzipn apologists keeping themselves very active blogging away and trying to scoff at Labour while Labour is updating itself to see its 55% popular support increasing every day.

L. Cutajar

Jan 13th 2010, 20:25

These people are unbelievable. How can any association, club, or a political party ever operate without a general secretary. Let us say that the MLP wins the next general election. Who is going to run the political party? Joey Muscat would be the PM and also the person running the MLP without the role of a general secretary. He will become the perfect dictator. Anyway he is qualified for such a role.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 20:10

@ L Azzopardi
What are you talking about? The function of General secretary is now being more clout as it is being upgraded to Dep Leader Party Affairs still elected by the General Conference. What do you see undemocratic about that?

Muscat. Pat

Jan 13th 2010, 19:24

Joevella:
People with blinkers can never understand that the present mess we are in is attributed to the dishonest piece of pre-election politicking. Desperate times demanded desperate measures, but the distaste is still felt and, this is why the present PN leadership's image is heavily tarnished.
Joesph Muscat, instead, represents a new start, a new hope and many floating voters can see through the man whose actions speak louder than Gonzi's empty words; hence the restructuring within thePL to direct Malta to a new quickstart full of optimistic expectations
Self-renewal is not for the squeamish, it requires guts and perseverance. Because he is young, handsome and intelligent, and also because he is the child of tomorrow, he doesnot partake in hateful divisions, like other leaders who are stuck inthe past. Joseph Muscat carries our hope, our future. Malta is crying for the audacity of change; for a new a leader that heals rather than wounds.
In contrast, Dr Gonzi has divided Malta into good and evil, he sees Maltese politics through narrow partisan spectacles. He is plotting to create a PN hegemony, though he sells himself a bipartisan. Muscat is contrary to the above; and that is a good start!

emmanuel zammit

Jan 13th 2010, 19:21

good move!!!

Anthony Mizzi

Jan 13th 2010, 18:54

Maybe Gonzipn will follow in the steps of the PL and abolish the post of General Secretary as well, like in fact they followed in the the steps of the PL with Redtouch mobile.

The gaffs PN General Secretary , Dr. paul Borg Olivier will certainly go down ion history, like the famous customercare e-mail sent to Jason Micallef ex-PL General Secretary in error instead of to Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi and last but not least the launch of ping mobile where the brand name is already in use..... : )

What next?


http://pingmobile.com/

http://www.pingmessaging.com/Ping%21/Ping%21.html

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 18:54

@ P Tabone

The post of General Secretary in the Labour Party was only created in the 1970s to substitute the post of Admin.Secretary. Time had shown that the post of Dep.Leader Party Affairs and General Secretary were a duplication of the same role with its attendant difficulties. The Dep.Ldr.Party Affairs would now cover both roles.

Helen Attard

Jan 13th 2010, 18:49

To all pn apologists who just yell at anything PL does or says:

None of the parties (pn, pl) had a 'General' secretary for many years as this was always regarded as an administrative competence. PL had an administrative secretary until the late 70's, while the PN had one who used to be a nomenclature - but began to be considered as a political role hitgh the coming of the dynasty Galea/Gatt/Gonzi followed by Saliba and now pbo.

It was precisely that dynasty (especially the Gatt bit) that had turned tabels while in government, declaring civil servants (the executive) to be and must be totally loyal to PN in government (the legislative)... Did you all forget the yelling "irridu nies taghna fic-civil!" ???

With these changes Joseph and his PL is indicating clearly that, as from now, as from within, there should be a clear distinction between the political and the administrative - within the party and eventually within a future Labour govt.

Are you all so blindfolded not to percieve this simple but clear indication?

Just read what Charles J Buttigieg wrote earlier and you can understand better..

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 18:42

@ N.Calleja

The CEO and the post of Marisa Micallef are Corporate Executive positions whose appointments are made by the National Executive of the party as empowered by the Party General Conference. This is just like you and I electing a government which in turn executes its party manifesto. Democracy in action

Marcel Dingli

Jan 13th 2010, 18:33

L Azzopardi, say it to Gonzi.

E. Vassallo

Jan 13th 2010, 18:32

@Sergio Galea Vincenti

I don't what separation you're talking about. Joseph is trying to give the impression that he is running the party on modern lines. I am sorry to disappoint you...there is no and there will be never any separation of political and administrative duties from BOTH parties. The PL and PN should be political parties and stop at that. I would suggest that they both close their TV and Radio stations together with the mobile telephony services that the both will be operating. Unfortunately, all Joseph did was abolish jason's job, split his tasks amongst one deputy leader and party president and CEO (CEO of a political party???). This is just job reeingeering, joib enlargement, job enrichment call whatever you like but no separation of duties!!!!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 18:30

@ N.Calleja

Did Joseph Muscat create a one man party? Yes it’s called Muscatpl after Gonzipn. However unlike Gonzipn’s 40% popular support Muscatpl already managed 55% and is still rising.

c. camilleri

Jan 13th 2010, 17:52

Hawadni ha nifmek. Two deputy leaders and no general secretary. Common sense dictates that it would be better to have one deputy leader and a secretary general. Perhaps this is part of the much promised earthquake

L Azzopardi

Jan 13th 2010, 17:00

Just last Sunday The Times reported that at the end of this month Labour will hold its General Conference and its aim is to appeal to the non-political people.

Now Joseph Muscat has taken a decision which scares the non-political; removing the post of Secretary General means removing checks and balances within the party and taking all the power in his hands (in Joseph Muscat's hands)

This is scary and does not augur well should he ever become Prime Minister.

Too much power in the hands of one person is dangerous ... Sincerely I appeal to Dr Muscat to re-think his decision. If he couldn't find a suitable Secretary General he should postpone the General Conference and take his time to choose the right person for the post

Joe Vella

Jan 13th 2010, 16:44

@ Muscat Pat

I am not going to wait for your answer. I shall answer in your stead.

Joseph Muscat is doing away with the position of General Secretary of the Party and replaced it with that of CEO of the Party. Have taken on a consultant in the name of Marisa Micallef at the annual salary of 40,000.00 Euros. If you call that trimming and pruning, then money really grows on trees my friend.

But what is more significant is the the PL today is even less DEMOCRATIC then it was yesterday. Joseph Muscat got rid of an ELECTED position and replaced that position with one by APPOINMENT by none other Joseph Muscat.

Joseph Muscat manage to take the PL back some 40 years. Joseph Muscat must be insane to ask the Maltese Electorate to trust him and the NEW PL that he constituted comes next. election. Guess we all know now what Joseph Muscat by the promise EARTHQUAKE. AN UNDEMOCRATIC PARTY = UNDEMOCRATIC NATION; NO THANKS. We know better.

R. Caruana

Jan 13th 2010, 16:42

Sounds like the pL is become a one-man band... back to Dom's times??

So now we have a party with two Deputy Leaders and no General Secretary. These things don't even happen in band clubs!

On the other hand, the way J.M. had been ousted makes anyone think twice on taking the job of General Secretary. Most probably there were no comers. For, how does one get elected by such an outstanding majority of delegates in a democratic manner only to be given the boot at the Leader's whim?

It all sounds farsesc to say the least, a party that had all thetime in the world to get itself organised and is instead in the dolldrums

victor borg

Jan 13th 2010, 16:14

victor borg@angelo falzon
dear friend as a delegate of the PL i would gladly go to vote to get rid of this govt. who
brought every one on his knees. Like Albert Gauci Cunningham said many flouting voters
are jumping ship before it sinks, ask your back benchers

Joe Vella

Jan 13th 2010, 16:00

@ Muscat Pat

May you tell us where Joseph Muscat did the pruning, trimming and what change you are talking about ?

G Debono

Jan 13th 2010, 15:37

Option 1
A strong leaeder would have picked the right person for the post and appointed him Secretary General. Muscat wanted Dr Edward Zammit lewis but Dr Zammit Lewis declined and Muscat is not strong enough to appoint someone else..

Option 2
Joseph Muscat is fast becoming a despot ... he wants to have all the power in his hands and is afraid that that power is taken away from him .. so he removes the top posts within the party to make sure that nobody will become a threat to him

IF THE SECOND OPTION IS TRUE THEN GOD FORBIDS THAT THIS MAN EVER BECOME PRIME MINISTER

Albert Gauci Cunnigham

Jan 13th 2010, 15:23

@Angelo Falzon---attitudes like yours are exactly the ones pushing people away. The idea that "no matter how much we mismanage, no matter how many shops and businesses close, no matter how many shameful and disgusting contracts we give to suspicious companies, no matter how much we treat people like cabbages who'll buy the crap we sell them before the election, no matter how many promises remain unkept or flagrantly broken we will always win". The PN won the last election on 3 counts.....it had a Leader which used to exhume confidence and unlike the whole Party was trusted by the voters....that no longer exists today...Gonzi is fast loosing his charm and turning out to be many things other than honest!! Second was Dr.Alfred Sant....most disgruntled floaters and pale blue voters just didnt trust the guy...Sant is no longer the PL Leader now. And thirdly on the many glitters and promises of a well thought out campaign...well most of the 2008 campaign turned to be just that---glitter, make up and stage management!! I suggest you'd be more careful dear Angelo.... Everyone knows what happened the last time someone chanted "ir-rebha taghna terga tkun" !

P Tabone

Jan 13th 2010, 15:16

Since 1921 when the Labour party was set up the Secretaries General of the political parties who wanted to contact the Labour Party knew whom to contact. If they want to contact labour now whom will they contact? Who is their PL counterpart now??

Muscat. Pat

Jan 13th 2010, 15:07

Dr Joseph Muscat is proving the doubters wrong; he is trimming, pruning and changing and acting more like a leader of substance; his words mean something and his plans are being assiduously implimented.

Sergio Galea Vincenti

Jan 13th 2010, 13:52

An excellent decision by the PL: The separation of the political and administrative management of the Party should further be extended to its subsidiaries to ensure a greater focus and transparency.

G Bugeja

Jan 13th 2010, 13:32

Well done joseph muscat for modernising the PL.

Modern party's are led by politically savvy technocrats and doers ... not posts.

PN are quickly becoming a party of the past. Labour a modern party for the future. Easy.

N.Calleja

Jan 13th 2010, 13:01

All these arrangements clearly show that Joseph Muscat has created a one-man party. Every thing is done according to his daily orders. Without a general secretary, the PL will be unique in administration. No wonder that Jason was asked to resign(and not resigned on his own free will!) This new strategy shows that Muscat is using the general meeting as a rubber stamp!! After appointing a CEO and a propaganda person without any approval from the general meeting, now he is imposing this new idea

Angelo Falzon

Jan 13th 2010, 11:50

Dear Joe Muscat,
Do you think that with this move, you're going to beat the PN? Hah. PN is in goverment from 1987, and we will remain there for a very long time. Relax and take it easy, and leave buisness to experienced, and responsible people.

George Grech

Jan 13th 2010, 11:16

probably Dr Muscat, could not risk to leave it to chance to have another non competent member in his team. This brings me to another question, what was jason Micallef doing for the past year if his role has now just been abolished... pretty simple to me.. NOTHING and still they gave him another position within the party. If Dr Muscat was as serious as he claims to be, he should not have left some one like jason to take such an easy ride.

P Spiteri

Jan 13th 2010, 11:13

Cost cutting following a spate of hefty donations

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jan 13th 2010, 08:50

This is welcoming news; I welcome this brave and wise decision and sincerely hope that the motion would not come across any difficulties to get a unanimous approval at the general conference.

I had been hoping and trying, with my limited resources, to initiate a public debate on this item and also to abolish the post of one of the Deputy Leaders. The proposed overhaul by the Party’s National Executive however makes sense as it would still allow the party delegates to have a direct say in the drawing up of the day to day policy decisions through the ‘hands on’ of the elected Deputy Leader Party Affairs.

The following was posted on Nikita Alamango’s Blog a few days ago.

Quote.
“Charles J. Buttigieg (3 weeks, 1 day ago)
@ Joseph D Borg

I partly agree with what you wrote in your last Para. Labour’s organogram is too heavy at the top and they should do away with one deputy leader. The role of General Secretary should also be down sized to Administrative Secretary and the CEO should be given more clout in political affairs Unquote.”