I often meet people who express their astonishment at the amazing success of the Labour Party both as a political party and in government. They ask me how Joseph Muscat has succeeded where so many others failed. It is, therefore, worthwhile to analyse the elements of Muscat’s successful leadership both as Labour leader and as Prime Minister of Malta.
Let me start with Dr Muscat’s approach to all political matters. Where politics is concerned, his approach is always a positive one. Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes committed in the past was that Labour was too negative in its approach.
Muscat always concentrates on explaining to the people the good that the PL has done, is doing and intends to do. This is very rewarding in electoral terms and is one of the reasons for the decline of the Nationalist Party as it is still living in the past and concentrates on being negative, something that many voters today abhor.
Under Muscat, the Labour Party is totally united and he tolerates no nonsense from anyone. This does not translate into a dictatorial approach to leadership. Party members are free to express themselves but the interests of the party are always given priority over those of the individual members. Accountability and transparency are the order of the day, both in party affairs and those of the government.
Nobody is untouchable. If you err, then you have to account for it and pay the political price, a far cry from the days of the Nationalists when political accountability was close to nil.
Muscat is also an assertive leader, being overawed by nothing and by nobody.
Another impressive aspect of Muscat’s leadership is the amount of work he manages to do as well as that demanded from his subordinates. I often speak to government members and they all agree that Muscat’s approach is that of a slave driver, in a positive sense, of course.
Muscat demands total commitment: work, work and more work
He demands total commitment: work, work and more work. Obviously, he is the first to set a good example in this regard. No wonder that in terms of objectives achieved and the amount of work carried out during the period the Labour government has been in power, its record is second to none.
An indispensable factor in good leadership is the ability to pick the right people for crucial posts. Muscat has excelled in this. Furthermore, he has no qualms about removing those who do not deliver. The Cabinet is delivering, surely nobody has any doubts about that. However, perhaps few realise how important is the political work being carried out at Labour headquarters by key individuals such as the PL chief executive officer, Gino Cauchi, and the PL communications coordinator, Nigel Vella.
The Labour Party has been so successful because it has a solid base to stand upon. In crucial times, such as during election campaigns, the work of people in key posts is a decisive factor leading to success or failure. Muscat has always chosen the right people for such crucial posts of responsibility.
Then, of course, Muscat is a courageous person. Which other Maltese politician would have had the courage to come up with such a slogan as Malta Tagħna Lkoll (Malta for all)? One must bear in mind that the Maltese people have long been accustomed to clientelism in politics, since the days of British colonialism.
Muscat did not hesitate. Gone are the days of a Labour government for Labourites only. Now we have a Maltese government for all Maltese citizens.
This was a bold move on the Labour leader’s part and it is clear that some hardcore Labour supporters have still not understood the significance of the new concept. This can be gauged from the substantial number of protest votes at the European Parliament elections earlier this year. Yet it is Muscat who is on the right side of history in this and for every hardcore vote he is losing, he is winning two from moderate voters.
By now, some readers will be asking whether I intend to present an argument that Muscat is a superman. Nothing of the sort! I believe that the Prime Minister will have to face some severe political tests when he will have to prove his mettle.
However, I also believe that these lie in the not-so-near future. For the moment, with a Nationalist Party in tatters, he does not face any serious opposition. It will be very hard indeed for the PN to even put up a creditable showing at the next general election.
However, what happens afterwards is a totally different matter. Many questions still have to be answered.
How will Muscat fare against a revamped Nationalist Party under a new, popular and energetic leader? Up to now he has faced a leader in decline (Lawrence Gonzi) and a totally ineffective one (Simon Busuttil).
Can the Prime Minister sustain over a long period of time the frenetic tempo of progressive change and the huge amount of work carried out? Will this great effort eventually peter out due to exhaustion? Will the Labour leader succeed in ensuring that voters will still find the Labour Party appealing when it has been in government for many years?
The challenges for Muscat as a leader lie in the future. Will he succeed? We just have to wait and see.