The next Labour deputy leader has to modernise the party’s organisation at a local level and improve interaction with society, Joseph Muscat said this morning.
In a 30-minute interview on One Radio, the Prime Minister spoke about the deputy leadership contest, the environment and economic success but failed to mention last week’s blunder in the appointment of two magistrates.
Playing in friendly territory Dr Muscat steered away from the controversy that saw one of the nominated lawyers pull out after it was deemed that her appointment would have breached the Constitution.
Focusing on the Labour Party’s internal election to choose a deputy leader to replace Toni Abela, the Prime Minister said more synergy was needed between the party and the government, while ensuring they remained distinct.
This, he said, underpinned the statute change approved by delegates last week to allow MPs the possibility to contest the post of deputy leader party affairs.
Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi has so far been the only candidate to submit a nomination. Nominations close tomorrow but Dr Mizzi is expected to be the sole contestant.
Dr Muscat said the Labour Party had to continue changing and the new deputy leader would need to have organisational and leadership skills. “We have to ensure the party is future-proof by anticipating the future and preparing for it.”
On the environment, Dr Muscat said the government was working to improve things and insisted the shift to gas-powered energy would help improve air quality. He said environment protection was not just about land use.
“In some issues we were not sensitive enough but it is clear that we are doing good things as well,” he said, adding the people appointed to the new environment authority were also proof of government’s commitment.
He then took a dig at the Opposition leader’s statement that the Nationalist Party would be drawing up the exceptions to a ban on ODZ development.
Dr Muscat said Simon Busuttil formed part of the previous administration that built a school every year, mostly in ODZ areas.
“He formed part of an administration that allowed Smart City to be built on ODZ land… there were some who may have been justified to believe him last year when he said development in ODZ should be banned, but he has now changed course and is speaking of exceptions,” Dr Muscat pointed out.
He added that the only ODZ development pushed by his government was the educational project in Marsascala – the private university, now institute, proposed by Jordanian investors.
“If he is honest, the Opposition leader should tell people that all he had said in the past months on ODZ was simply a tactic to put spokes in the government’s wheels,” Dr Muscat said.