This month, Malta’s Partit Laburista celebrates 90 years of its existence. Irrespective of one’s political opinion, nobody can deny the fact that the Labour Party’s hard work since 1920 has been crucial in bringing about progress and positive change in the Maltese islands. It is, therefore, worthwhile to reflect on Labour’s history, which, in itself, mirrors the recent history of the Maltese nation.
In the 1920s, though still a very small political party, Labour managed to serve as the catalyst for the introduction of innovative social legislation through its Compact with Gerald Strickland’s much more powerful Constitutional Party, which was victorious at the 1927 general election. The 1929 Workmen’s Compensation Act remains a monument to the Compact government.
Through his sterling work in the executive council and the Council of Government in the 1930s and 1940s, Labour leader Paul Boffa laid the foundation stone for the social legislation of the first Labour government elected in 1947. The Old Age Pensions Act of 1948 was the first step towards the future creation of the welfare state. Then, in 1949, came the split in the party, a sad event for all Labourites and the beginning of a period of political instability in Malta, which only came to an end in 1955 with the coming to power of another Labour government, this time with Dom Mintoff as Prime Minister.
The 1955-58 Labour government, although having to use most of its reserves of energy in tense negotiations with the British government to protect the livelihood of the large number of workers being made redundant by the British, still managed to implement important reforms such as those in education, where the school building programme was accelerated and full-time education was now offered to all school-age children, with free textbooks, copybooks and milk. The first special school for the deaf was also inaugurated.
Then came a very difficult period for the Labour Party. The 1960s were characterised by a politico-religious dispute the consequences of which are still felt to the present day. Yet, even in such a difficult period, it worked hard to obtain Independence for Malta, which was finally obtained in 1964 under a Nationalist Administration.
The 1971 general election was a watershed in Maltese history. The Labour governments from 1971 to 1987 changed the face of Malta. The building of the welfare state, started under the Boffa Administration, was completed. Independence was strengthened through the creation of the Republic in 1974 and the closure of the British military base in 1979. Episodes of political violence, however, marred these achievements. These condemnable excesses were perpetrated by criminal elements who associated themselves with the PL and fanatics who did much more harm than good to their own political party by their stupidities.
Labour remained in opposition until 1996 when a new Labour government came to power under Alfred Sant. Dr Sant was a man ahead of his time. He tried to usher in concepts such as the elimination of clientelism and the promotion of the concept of meritocracy in all aspects of public life. It was his misfortune to clash with Mr Mintoff. The result was the fall of the Labour government and its return to the opposition benches in 1998. Yet, even in a short period of 22 months, Labour scored major successes such as the Chadwick Lakes Project, the embellishment of Buġibba and the war on drug trafficking.
The period 1998-2008 was a difficult one for Labour. The extent of the damage to its public image sustained as a result of the Sant-Mintoff clash is only becoming clear today. It is to the great credit of present Labour leader Joseph Muscat that, within a relatively short period of time, he managed to heal the rifts within the party and unify it behind his enthusiastic and dignified leadership.
As we slowly approach the next general election, today’s PL has changed with the times. The change is, in my opinion, a positive one, Today’s Partit Laburista is an all-inclusive political party, that is, it welcomes everybody within it, irrespective of social class, beliefs, sexual orientation, etc. Dr Muscat combines in himself the strengths of past leaders. He has the moderate approach to politics of Dr Boffa and the dynamism and charisma of Mr Mintoff. It is a recipe for success.
Labour’s past record speaks for itself. It surely deserves the confidence of the electorate at the next general election.