The former general secretary of the Malta Labour Party, Dominic Fenech, a University professor, warned his party against losing its soul by "pussyfooting" to pander to voters (timesofmalta.com, November 22).
The leader of the Labour Party (the National Coalition or the New Progressive Movement or whatever it is calling itself nowadays) promised that: "We are eradicating the siege mentality - where we think everyone is against us. We're accepting criticism better" (The Times, June 14).
In spite of the best of intentions, disagreement, disgruntlement and dissent continues to flourish within the PL between those revering the "saviours of Malta" Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici versus the pro-Alfred Sant bloc versus those who hope Joseph Muscat is going to miraculously glue all the pieces into one happy family. What a fool's paradise!
The new leader promised an earthquake. But is the earth shaking simply because the "lost" sheep are back in business? Is the world quivering because Labour supporters are now sporting the EU stars and the Maltese cross instead of the Labour torch or because every so often it baptises the party with different names?
Labour's foundation has been quaking since its first split between Sir Paul Boffa and Mr Mintoff and continued trembling when, in a militant and belligerent fashion, Mr Mintoff alienated justice and freedom and handed over the reins of the country to Dr Mifsud Bonnici, who continued playing havoc with our democracy.
Then came Dr Sant, with his less aggressive political style but, underlying the apparent "calm" smiles, internal conflict was fermenting with major fissures immediately appearing in his chain of command. The first casualties were deputy leader George Abela and Finance Minister Lino Spiteri. Dr Sant's Premiership was also a frustrating period of isolation for his predecessor, Mr Mintoff who fumed silently on the back benches until he could take no more and exploded. Ironically, while admitting that his government floundered in 1998 because it was "unstable", Dr Sant alleged that Mr Mintoff was manipulated by the PN (Dissett).
Another example of Labour's expertise at shifting blame was Prof. Fenech's comments on Black Monday's destruction: "I didn't know. And if the others knew, they didn't identify them. We're not even sure, strictly speaking, that they were Labour (supporters). Do you have proof? I'm not saying they weren't."
The Times was quick to rebut: "If they were not Labour people, who were they then? Nationalist hirelings? Or men from some terrorist organisation?" (November 25).
Another Labour general who was transformed from potential hero to classic scapegoat by his own party was deputy leader Michael Falzon. The more he was blamed for the 2008 electoral defeat the louder he cried blue murder, shooting his mouth off against Dr Sant, Jason Micallef and the whole Labour Administration. He categorically denied involvement in Labour's campaign, claiming he was not the culprit but a victim.
Mr Micallef was another top brass Labour casualty when he was unceremoniously kicked upstairs to One Productions by Dr Sant's understudy, Dr Muscat. No longer involved in the party administration, he claims that Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, the party's former president, has got away with hell. Speaking publicly for the first time after stepping down from the post, he said: "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?" (The Sunday Times, October 11).
Adding more spice to this sordid affair, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi, Labour's temp general secretary, declared it was his choice not to contest the (general secretary's) post next January but Mr Micallef told The Sunday Times: "He lied. I had made that condition."
Yes, there are many clashes in paradise between the top brass and their sidekicks. It seems that every time Labour moves on it immediately jolts backwards quick step. Labour's internal squabbles and cosmetic changes are not cataclysmic; neither are they of any value to our country's success.
The striking difference between the Nationalists and the Labourites is that the former glorify their past leaders, celebrate their achievements and continue cultivating the inheritance bequeathed to them whereas the leaders of the Labour Party, seemingly ashamed of their past leaders, insist on starting afresh, re-branding the product in an attempt to cleanse themselves of its past by repeatedly changing their image and renaming the party New Labour, Newer Labour, Progressive Labour etc.
As matters stand, this "shifting" movement is apparently regressing more than it is progressing and I humbly suggest Dr Muscat decides whether he wants to lead in a "new" way to please his supporters or adopt a more militant one to please Prof. Fenech and Co.
Hopefully, the PL leader will understand once and for all that he definitely cannot lead sideways. If he continues zig-zagging, as he has been doing so far, multiple cracks will continue to appear and the turmoil brewing underground will finally erupt!