No doubt Joseph Muscat has done a great job since his appointment as leader of the Labour Party. His idea of revisiting the structures of the party to set up a movement has paid dividends.
If Labour has not yet announced its policy on employment, how can one conclude that Labour won’t work?- Emmanuel Micallef
His determination in undertaking internal re-structuring in order to bring about change is now very evident.
Initially he touched on the urgent need for an internal earthquake and while some thought this was only a cliché coming from a young enthusiast, it has become the modus operandi of an organisation transforming itself into a dynamic entity reaching out to society at large.
Muscat means business. He invited all people of goodwill to join in his vision for the party and to take an active part in the process of revitalisation.
This was easier said than done. How could a veteran official of the PL sit down next to a former Nationalist Party activist?
How could it be that disgruntled Labourites could once again seek refuge within the party structures?
How come Labour is more concerned about running the economy in a way that attracts investment and improves living standards of the middle class while safeguarding the vulnerable at the lowest strata of society, than about promoting the class struggle?
Muscat made it clear, Labour is Labour. There is no old or new.
It is a forward-looking movement embracing all kinds of talents to get our country on track to face the challenges and opportunities of the immediate future but that will affect the next generations.
There is no turning back.
His greatest achievement so far has been changing the mentality of party supporters: “We made mistakes in the past and although we paid a hefty price, we learned from our own experiences.
“Now we have to look to the future that unites us as a single front in one direction. We have to think of collaboration rather than confrontation. We opt for the benefits of competition rather than the divisiveness of pique.
“We stand for meritocracy against favouritism. We believe in the merits of diversity and the values of social justice and freedom.”
If that is Muscat’s credo then it is not surprising so many people are putting their trust in this man. He is leading a movement that cherishes hope for a better future. But there is still a long way to go. In politics it is not plain sailing. Like any other former leader of the Opposition, Muscat is constantly under attack by his political adversaries. He is depicted as a clone of his predecessors.
His achievements in uniting his party are interpreted as an attempt to get old Labour faces to the forefront in contrast with his futuristic approach. He is continuously being criticised that his policies won’t work, as he lacks concrete action plans. He is labelled a populist politician, promising heaven on earth to all and sundry.
According to his opponents, his age is also a setback, implying political, if not leadership, immaturity. Criticism is healthy as long as it is just and fair.
Once criticism touches the line that borders outright spin or demonisation, then it is not objective not all. Is the criticism levelled at Muscat fair and just?
Time has proven he is absolutely different in style and form to his predecessors. His leadership skills do not foster any love-hate relationship. He is more of the compromising type.
He does not bend on principles but is quite tolerant and understanding of opposing views.
He is quite clear in his thinking and he is communicative and pragmatic in his approach. He might be media savvy and image conscious but he is surely a people’s man. His forte is his analytical forma mentis when taking important decisions. The underlying motive behind his adversaries’ criticism that he is a clone is to instigate fear.
There is no need to delve into the fragmentation that existed within the PL prior the appointment of Muscat at the helm. Uniting the party is a feather in his cap. The fact that veteran stalwarts can now hold a dialogue with party novices to mix experience with ambition is a healthy exercise in itself.
I remember quite well the mix within the PN between the Eddie Fenech Adami contemporaries and those who joined the party afterwards, most of them now forming part of the present PN Administration.
The spin in this respect is that Muscat will form a Cabinet from the few veterans that have remained active in politics. This is an attempt to generate fear among the electorate. The list of talented new candidates on the PL ticket is endless. The PN billboards campaign is further proof that its strategy is based on the fear factor. The statement made takes us back in time and reminds us that old Labour meant unemployment.
As if a new Labour government would apply the same policies and strategies of 30 years ago. As if today’s Labour market is no different to that of years gone by.
But the spin lies in the flow of the PN campaign strategy: old faces in Cabinet can only generate old policies. If Labour has not yet announced its policy on employment, how can one conclude that Labour won’t work? Sweeping statements are always contagious.
So far the PN and its apologists seem to have the upper hand in pointing out that no alternative proposals have been forthcoming from the PL.
But we all know that the PL will eventually publish its manifesto in time for the election. It is not a case of not having proposals but a question of the right timing to ensure that the promised road map is not misconstrued through spin and propaganda.
This has already been tried and tested, not only during the last electoral campaign but even recently when Labour disclosed its plans for disabled persons and its guarantee to youth of education, training and employment.
Still, until the publication of Labour’s proposals, there is fertile ground in which to sow the fear of the unknown.
Joseph is young. So what? With all due respect, I would prefer a young, energetic, ambitious leader with vision than a leader who is contemplating his retirement plans, striving hard to keep his house in order and talking about the past.
Given the choice I opt for a future of hope not fear of the past.