Christian Peregin
No more general secretaries for Labour Party
General secretaries will be a thing of the past within the Labour Party after the national executive accepted a proposal to abolish the post, once the general conference approves it.
"Some of the general secretary's functions will now be passed on to the deputy leader for party affairs and to the president of the party," the PL said yesterday.
A secretarial role within the national executive will still exist but this will be strictly administrative. The secretary will be appointed by the executive for two years and will not be able to contest an election.
"Labour is modernising its structures on the lines promised by Joseph Muscat when elected leader," a party spokesman said, adding this would ensure better functionality and efficiency.
Last September, general secretary Jason Micallef resigned from the post and was placed at the head of the party's media arm, following "discussions" with Dr Muscat.
He said later he did so only on condition that party pre-sident Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi would not replace him, a promise the PL denied was ever made.
Asked whether the abolishment of the role had anything to do with this incident, the spokesman said: "These changes are not based on names or individuals but on a vision for a party, a movement and a country."
"Far from being a one-man show, this is yet another step in building the movement of progressives and moderates... This party is not focused on internal rifts, unlike the one that is now in government," the spokesman concluded.
But PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier believes there is more to the decision than meets the eye. "The fact that the Labour leader did not manage to find or field a suitable candidate in the list of possible contenders does not mean that the post should be abolished."
Former PN general secretary Joe Saliba said he did not know how a party could function without a general secretary. "Does anyone know of an organisation without a general secretary? I don't think they exist."
Former Labour general secretary Dominic Fenech says this was "probably a good idea" if it were "part of a plan" and not just a question of eliminating a "contentious" role.
Prof. Fenech pointed out that the role had in recent years become very "high profile", giving the party two different faces that could, at times, become conflicting.
"This is centralisation of power but in a good way because it is more coordinated. The party cannot speak with more than one mouth," he said.
Mr Micallef could not be contacted yesterday.
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Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 14th 2010, 19:02
Party structures
General Secretary, Secretary General, Party Secretary, it’s all six of one half a dozen of the other.
The General Secretary of the British Labour Party heads the staff in their two head offices and in the many local offices around the country. The Scottish and Welsh Labour Parties are headed by their own general secretaries, in practice subordinate to the national general secretary.
The General Secretary of the British Labour Party is responsible for employing staff; campaign and media strategies; running the Party's organisational, constitutional and policy committees; organising the Party Conference; liaison with the Socialist International and Party of European Socialists; ensuring legal and constitutional propriety; preparing literature etc. These are practically the same roles of the PN and the PL’s Secretary General.
The PL has a Deputy Leader for Party Affairs, a Secretary General and a CEO most of the time stepping on each other’s toes and at times working cross-purpose. The Dep.Ldr. will now replace the Secretary General and the CEO will manage the corporate affairs. There may be other strategic reasons why the overhaul is taking place - so what? I say it again, what’s all the fuss about?
Franco Farrugia
Jan 14th 2010, 17:03
@ Mr Buttigieg: 'What's the fuss about?' >>>> Wee...llll, the very fact that you jump out and take pains to try and explain this move, .... speaks volumes, n'est-ce pas? :-)
NB. And it's not a 'general secretary' but a 'secretary-general'.
M Camilleri
Jan 14th 2010, 14:53
Labour has given up its search for a Secretary General! Following months of speculation, infighting and delicate tight-rope balancing, the Labour Party has finally called it quits in its search for a Secretary General. So the post will now be abolished, and Deputy Leader Toni Abela will absorb most of the tasks of the Secretary General, while naturally keeping his legal profession. What an easy way out indeed!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 14th 2010, 14:34
A political party like commercial institutions that know their onions work with a strategic plan and place people to manage it. This is basic management. Designations are made to fill the strategic offices accordingly. The PN call their leader Kap and Labour Mexxej-What’s in a name? They both do the same work, they lead a political party.
The duties and responsibilities of Labours office of the General Secretary haven’t changed; Labour thinks that the redistribution of work would give it a more effective way to reach its go. Joe Saliba and PBO have a different approach to modern management-so what? They manage their way and the PL manages by its ways. What’s all the fuss about?