The Labour Party’s “risky” idea of overhauling local councils might lead to a defeat in the upcoming local council elections but there is a great need for it, according to Labour leader Joseph Muscat.
“The Labour Party wants to challenge the old concept of local councils, which has expired,” Dr Muscat said during a political meeting at St Anne’s Square, Sliema.
The party no longer wanted councils to be an extension of government departments and bureaucracy but entities that protected the family and citizens, he said.
However, Dr Muscat admitted that the concept, which the party would push for the upcoming March local council elections, was “risky”.
“It might mean that we could lose the local council elections but change is needed.”
The need for change in councils was raised by Dr Muscat last week in an opinion article published in L-Orizzont where he promised to shake up local government and pledged not to help those candidates who wanted to continue working in the current system.
In fact, The Sunday Times revealed yesterday that the Labour Party is planning to reject several of its serving local councillors including mayors, barring them from contesting the elections, and is looking for new candidates especially young ones to replace councillors who have not worked satisfactorily.
Dr Muscat appealed yesterday to women and especially young people to come forward and be the “motor” behind this change.
But for the change to be effective, Dr Muscat pointed out, other political parties had to be on board and he was sure there were others who thought the same.
Yesterday’s event was organised by Forum Żagħżagħ Laburisti, which launched a campaign called Start that aims to encourage youths to become actively involved in politics.
Forum president Daniel Micallef explained that the campaign would evolve in different stages focusing on actually recruiting new council candidates and recommending proposals for each locality.
Mr Micallef said a successful reform would be achieved through the involvement of enthusiastic youths.
The discussion mainly focused around the guest speakers involved: musician Sigmund Mifsud, pro-divorce campaigner and lawyer Deborah Schembri, university lecturer Andrew Azzopardi and teacher Wilfred Buttigieg.
Mr Mifsud, who has been approached by the Labour Party to stand for the next general election, spoke about his musical career and the importance of youths believing they have a lot to offer.
Dr Schembri, who will be contesting the next general election on the Labour ticket, said people had a lot to contribute without even knowing it.
Meanwhile, Dr Azzopardi, who made it amply clear he was there in his professional capacity, gave an analysis of the concept of activism and pointed out that everyone, including youths, had to work to strengthen the community.
The Nationalist Party pointed out that Dr Muscat was right when he insisted that more young people should take an active role in politics.
Dr Muscat should admit that, back in 2003, he was at the forefront in trying to scare young people that EU membership “would cause untold harm to their future,” the party said.
The PN always believed that the best recipe for Malta’s success was investing in the younger generation.