On January 1, 2017, Malta will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. For the six months that follow, it will chair meetings of the Council, determine its agenda, set a work programme and facilitate dialogue and act as ‘honest broker’ both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions.

Joseph Muscat lately referred to this upcoming event as one of the most important landmarks in Malta’s political history. If successful, this presidency will greatly enhance Malta’s European and international profile.

The two most important domestic elements on which the success of an EU rotating presidency depends are a dedicated, inspiring and skilful political leadership and a well prepared and committed public administration. The latter depends very much upon the former. The responsibility falls first and foremost upon the Prime Minister. It is the Prime Minister who has to exercise political leadership in order to provide a clear direction for his country’s EU presidency.

The experience of some recent rotating presidencies indicates that domestic affairs have an impact on the performance of the country’s presidency. A stable political and economic situation is conducive to a successful presidency. Having a stable government and clear political leadership, where priorities are set and challenges are well defined, will facilitate a seamless chain of command and clear division of responsibilities – essential for a successful presidency.

A look at some of the recent lacklustre presidencies shows that a government struggling on the domestic front, lacking leadership and clear objectives at home, will not be able to venture beyond the day-to-day functions expected from any presidency.

For a country to make a successful entrepreneurial use of its rotating presidency, it has to have the courage, the skill and the credibility to be able to shape the EU agenda according to its national priorities and to push initiatives based on its national interest. It has to achieve this in addition to carrying through successfully the predetermined or arising EU agenda on its plate. The Prime Minister’s role in all this is crucial.

The March 9 election will probably determine who will be Malta’s Prime Minister in January – June 2017. If Muscat is given the people’s mandate to lead our country, will he be up to the task? Does he have what it takes to lead a country through a successful and high profile EU presidency? Will he be able to exercise the leadership, domestically and in Europe, that is necessary to shape policy outcomes in line with Malta’s national preferences?

I am one among many who believe that he has the right profile for this task, demanding as it certainly is. He has the credentials, the determination, the vision, the courage, the skills and the experience expected from the political leader of the country holding the EU presidency.

I am not particularly keen on brandishing academic qualifications among the credentials for political acumen and leadership. However, in Muscat’s case, he surely possesses the academic qualifications that will enable him to navigate through the complex institutional relations within the EU.

Nor should one underestimate the political and European experience that he gained during his years as member of the European Parliament. In the European Parliament, Muscat held, among other posts, the office of vice president of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and was substitute member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

During his four years representing Malta at the European Parliament, Muscat gained the reputation as one of the most active and hard-working MEPs. During this period he tabled numerous parliamentary questions on a wide variety of subjects of direct interest to Malta and the welfare of the Maltese people.

When challenged by Nationalist Party representatives about his European credentials, Muscat frequently refers to his experience at the European Parliament and says that the most important lesson he has learnt there was “to work with people with whom one does not agree”. This really sets a tall challenge in local politics, where we have grown accustomed to the GonziPN way of doing politics: do everything GonziPN’s way and disregard all constructive suggestions and ideas wherever they come from.

I feel proud to form part of Muscat’s team. All Maltese citizens should feel the same way if he is elected Prime Minister.

All of us need to contribute to make Malta’s presidency of the EU a big success. There will be a space for everyone to do so.

Learning to work with those with whom one does not agree, building consensus around one’s basic beliefs, welcoming constructive criticism, respecting the rights of minorities, building an all inclusive society where everyone enjoys equal opportunities and success is based on merit, these are among the hallmarks of transparent and unselfish political leadership.

In his four and a half years as Leader of the Opposition, building on his experience in the European Parliament, Muscat has matured into such a leader. He stands not only for a better future for Malta but also as a credible and competent leader of the EU presidency, come January 2017.