This weekend saw another two young politicians take over European left-wing parties, one of them two years younger than the Malta Labour Party's new leader Joseph Muscat.

On Friday, together with Dr Muscat, Jutta Urpilainen, a 32-year-old former teacher became the first female leader of the Finnish Social Democratic Party and on Saturday 34-year-old Grzegorz Napleralski won his bid to become Poland's new head of the Democratic Left Alliance.

Ms Urpilainen defeated former Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja by 218 to 132 votes, taking over the main opposition party and one of Finland's most influential political forces since World War II.

Mr Napleralski, who served as the party's general secretary, won after he received 231 votes, just 21 more votes than incumbent leader Wojciech Olejniczak.

Dr Muscat's age was raised as a potential pitfall for the 34-year-old, who faced four experienced rivals during the leadership campaign.

However, PES (Party of European Socialists) president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen welcomed the youth of the newly-elected leaders.

"It is encouraging to see a new generation ready to take our social democratic parties into the future. I warmly congratulate Jutta, Joseph and Grzegorz on their election as party leaders and I wish them every success," he said.