Former Labour general secretary Jason Micallef yesterday said he was made a scapegoat after last year's general election even though there were four others in the strategy team, including his temporary successor Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.

Mr Micallef told The Sunday Times: "I was upset that I got all the blame and he (Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi) got away scot-free. Can you tell me why he was never criticised?"

Speaking publicly for the first time since he was asked to step down from the post, Mr Micallef also said he was considering contesting the next general election.

Mr Micallef added that if he was not good enough to be general secretary, nor was Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi. The two have been working together in the Labour Party's executive for the past six years.

He hit out at comments by Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi on Dissett last Tuesday.

"He (Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi) said it was his choice not to contest the (general secretary's) post in January. He lied. I had made that condition," Mr Micallef told The Sunday Times.

Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi recently announced that he would not run for the post of general secretary during Labour's January general conference, in spite of mounting speculation to the contrary.

Mr Micallef said it was still "early days" to say who could replace him permanently, but he predicted there would be many twists and turns before the end of January.

When asked to comment on his relationship with Dr Muscat, Mr Micallef said diplomatically: "He is still my leader. I will remain a firm supporter of the party." When pressed further, he said the relationship with Dr Muscat was still "good".

He also promised that there would "definitely" come a time when he would return to "the core of the party".

ZRINZO AZZOPARDI STANDS BY HIS COMMENTS

When contacted, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said that he stood by what he said on television that "there were no conditions."

cperegin@timesofmalta.com