The Labour Party will hold the first-ever congress for members next month when it is expected to approve the guidelines for the electoral manifesto.

The nine-day political extravaganza at the Ta’ Qali national park kicks off on September 14 and coincides with the Nationalist Party’s traditional Independence Day celebrations.

Officially announcing the event yesterday, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this was the first time that any political party will engage with its members rather than with a limited number of delegates. The party has about 30,000 members.

The drafting of the manifesto was entrusted to Labour MP Karmenu Vella, a former tourism minister.

The idea of holding a congress for members was introduced in the party’s statute after Dr Muscat became leader in 2008. Statutorily, the congress will now be held on two occasions: to elect the party leader and to approve the principles on which the electoral manifesto will be based.

In the run-up to the Labour leadership race, former contender and now President of the Republic George Abela had called for a system which would have members choosing the leader and not just the 800 or so delegates. At the time this was not allowed by the party statute.

Dr Muscat said the congress will serve as a platform of discussion between the party and its members, to draw up a list of priorities that would define a future Labour government.

“There may be issues the party would have to put on the backburner as a result of the process and other instances where members will have to be made aware of certain constraints and convinced to change their stand,” Dr Muscat said.

These are uncharted waters, he added, because the party had no precedent to go by.

“It will be a nice adventure where people will be able to discuss political principles.”