Labour’s leading MEP Louis Grech yesterday officially became the only candidate for the deputy leadership position left vacant in the wake of Anglu Farrugia’s surprise resignation.
In a comment to The Sunday Times, the 65-year-old MEP, who has been known to turn down similar offers in the past, said it had been a difficult decision.
“In the end, I think it was the convergence of MPs and party members’ encouragement that convinced me that perhaps this is the right moment,” he said.
Mr Grech enjoys widespread backing, even among potential contenders like Chris Cardona, Owen Bonnici and Evarist Bartolo.
But the election also comes in the wake of a bitter resignation by Dr Farrugia, who on Thursday was forced to step down after he said that a magistrate was politically motivated when she acquitted a man of corrupt practices.
Mr Grech said he had not yet spoken to Dr Farrugia but intended to do so in the near future.
“There should be a rapprochement. Bitterness is never good in any relationship and I think we should address this, listen and find ways to address it,” he said.
If Mr Grech, as expected, garners the 50 per cent plus one vote that he needs from delegates in Thursday’s election, he will be catapulted straight into the limelight, a place he is not known to pursue.
“It’s true that I don’t pursue the limelight but I wouldn’t say that I am camera shy. I don’t believe in overexposure, but I believe in delivering the message when you have one to deliver and in the coming weeks we will have a message to deliver.”
But beyond the normal challenges of such a position, Mr Grech could also be challenged by health issues he has faced in recent years. Will it affect his performance during the campaign, and in office, if elected?
“It’s true that I have had health problems in recent times and I gave this issue a lot of consideration before agreeing to put my name forward. “Believe me I would not have come forward had I not felt that I am fit,” he said.
“However, in these past years I have always kept my commitments in the European Parliament and in Malta. And, I also believe that you should not resign yourself when faced with these problems but you should fight back and that is what I have done,” he said.
His message to the delegates, Mr Grech said, was that he would bring his experience and energy and commitment to bear in the electoral campaign. “Should the people chose to give us their trust, I pledge to give all to deliver on people’s aspirations for a better quality society.”
Voting on Thursday will take place between 11am and 7pm at the party headquarters in Hamrun, and between 11am and 5pm in its club in Victoria.
Before entering the fray in the Euro-Parliamentary elections, the Oxford-educated MEP was best known for his role at Air Malta. He rose through the ranks of the airline’s management to be appointed CEO and later chairman, leading Air Malta under Labour and Nationalist administrations.