Konrad Mizzi is unlikely to face any competition for the post of Labour deputy leader party affairs when the nominations close tomorrow.

The Health and Energy Minister is so far the only candidate to submit his nomination and others rumoured to have been interested in the post have instead pledged support.

In an opinion article that appeared yesterday in Illum, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said he seconded Dr Mizzi’s nomination “with great pleasure”.

The tweet by Edward Zammit Lewis.The tweet by Edward Zammit Lewis.

The declaration followed a tweet last Saturday – the same day Dr Mizzi submitted his nomination – by Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis who said he agreed with the Prime Minister’s call for proactive change. “I fully endorse the nomination of @KonradMizzi for deputy leader.”

The two declarations put paid to speculation that Dr Bonnici and Dr Zammit Lewis could have challenged Dr Mizzi for the post.

And, yesterday, Joseph Muscat left no doubt about the person he wants to see occupying the post of deputy leader party affairs.

The Labour leader wants someone with organisational skills and a good communicator, qualities that rest with Dr Mizzi.

When interviewed on One Radio, Dr Muscat said the new deputy leader had to modernise the party’s organisation at a local level and improve “interaction” with society.

We have to ensure the party is future-proof by anticipating the future and preparing for it

“We have to ensure the party is future-proof by anticipating the future and preparing for it,” he said, adding the party had to continue changing despite not facing a crisis.

The post will be vacated by Toni Abela when he takes up his place at the European Court of Auditors. Nominations close tomorrow and the election will be on February 25.

Last Friday, Labour delegates approved changes to the party statute that made it possible for MPs to contest the post of deputy leader party affairs.

It was soon after Dr Muscat became Labour leader that the party had decided in 2008 that MPs could not serve as deputy leaders for party affairs.

However, Dr Muscat yesterday justified the rethink, insisting that more synergy was needed between the party and the government while maintaining a distinction between the two.

Sources close to the Labour Party said that with the general election now only two years away, Dr Muscat wanted someone who could re-energise the administrative structures.

“After Labour was elected to government, the party structures went into a slumber as is the case with every party in government. The party started losing the sharpness it had prior to the 2013 election and Joseph Muscat wanted someone like Konrad [Mizzi] he could trust to make the necessary changes,” the sources said.

This view is reinforced by Labour president Daniel Micallef, who writes in the Times of Malta today (see Talking Point on back page) about the need for renewal.

“The beginning of the end (not the one forecast by Simon Busuttil as he waved his 100-year-old flag) for any political party which aims to remain relevant is the moment it ceases to change and renew itself – change is not an option, but essential,” Mr Micallef wrote.

He added that certain rules and restrictions which were deemed to be necessary in the past could be hindering the party’s operation.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com

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