Labour Party International Secretary Joe Mifsud yesterday formally announced his candidature for the post of deputy leader for party affairs, making it a four-horse race.

The other contenders are Toni Abela, Clyde Cassar and Gavin Gulia. A former journalist and a lawyer by profession, Dr Mifsud said he had decided to contest because he felt he still had a lot to contribute to the Labour Party. Having worked in several of the party's structures for the past 22 years, he had done a lot for the party but believes he could do more.

He was all for democracy within the party in the decision-making process but "there is no need to wash our dirty linen in public. Whatever is discussed internally should remain so," he said, referring indirectly to various leaks from the party headquarters.

He said he had a number of proposals in order to make the party better and more up-to-date. The bottom line of all his ideas was close, direct and one-to-one contact with the man in the street and the party members.

This hands-on approach, he suggested, should be used to increase party membership by five per cent a year. Moreover, this approach, he reckons, should be adopted by the candidates by visiting at least 2,000 households over a five-year period and getting back to the party with people's fears and aspirations.

Another idea was to increase female and youth participation within the party structures, especially as candidates for the local and general elections.

The 40-year-old lawyer said he would like the MLP to have a National Policy Forum bringing together different sectors of society to discuss particular policy issues.

He would also like to see a grouping of Labour local committee members and councillors and a forum for the self-employed and SMEs.

With regard to fund-raising, Dr Mifsud said that while the party should continue to receive small donations from a large number of people, it should also consider business ventures with the private sector.

During his campaign he will be meeting the majority of the 900 delegates who will be voting for the two deputy leaders on June 12. The post he is contesting is currently occupied by Michael Falzon, one of the five contenders for the post of party leader, due to be elected on June 5.