The closing session of Labour’s two-week general conference was a show of force, with former leadership contenders and star candidates all singing their leader’s praises.
Failed leadership candidates Evarist Bartolo, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Michael Falzon all spoke before Joseph Muscat’s closing address, to show old wounds have healed.
The only rival not in attendance was President George Abela. However, his son Robert Abela, a Labour candidate and the husband of Labour’s executive secretary Lydia Abela, took the stage to give a scathing review of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
The conference was also addressed by Yana Mintoff Bland, one of the two daughters of former Labour leader Dom Mintoff, who spoke of her admiration for Dr Muscat and said her father was following events closely.
Criminal lawyer Emmanuel Mallia spoke just before Dr Muscat and announced his candidature for the general election, while the former pro-divorce campaigner and another Labour star candidate Deborah Schembri gave her first general conference speech.
So did pro-divorce campaigner Carmel Hili, who had fronted the movement of Catholics in favour of divorce and had also been active in Alternattiva Demokratika.
Ms Coleiro Preca ended her speech with a passionate “we are behind you, Joseph, we are behind you”, while Dr Falzon appealed for more loyalty and unity within the party.
Mr Bartolo accused the Nationalists of spreading hatred and lies against Franco Debono. “If they are prepared to do this to one of their own, what are they ready to do to their adversaries?”
He also said that other high profile Nationalists have started to feel closer to the Labour Party but said he would not mention names.
Dr Abela criticised the Prime Minister for telling Transport Minister Austin Gatt to step down to help the PN’s electoral machine, proving party came before country for Dr Gonzi. He said the Nationalists were clinging to power and, according to Dr Gatt, expected 20 more years of power despite offering nothing new.
Ms Mintoff Bland, who struggled to speak Maltese through her British accent, was given an enormous welcome and standing ovation after she labelled the government a “clique of thieves” and criticised Malta’s entry into the United Nation’s Partnership for Peace. She said Malta’s democracy and sovereignty should come before everything else.
Dr Schembri said she was pleased to be part of the Labour Party after switching over because the Nationalist government did not offer “what I voted for”.
Dr Mallia described Dr Muscat as an “excellent” leader with fresh ideas. He said he felt comfortable with Labour and urged others to make the switch.
“We are fed up of this nonsense. Our people deserve better, much better,” he said. Meanwhile, former MEP candidate Marlene Mizzi accused the Nationalists of not having the country’s interests at heart while calling on the Labour Party not to fall into dirty campaigning and personal attacks.
Environment spokesman Leo Brincat criticised the Prime Minister for saying the government is not in election mode. He said the country has been coming to a halt since Independence Day and was even more “jammed” in the past weeks.