So now its a three horse race with Evarist Bartolo joining the fray in another shock to the system. All we're waiting for is George Abela and then the list will be complete.
It's still very early days and everyone is being very polite and pretty vague although young Mr Bartolo has been the first to take an open swipe at Alfred Sant, saying that he should have resigned in 2003. No shit Sherlock! There's a revelation for you.
How people position themselves in relation to Dr Sant during all this is going to be fascinating. Some distance will be needed - cue Mr Bartolo's comments and Michael Falzon resurecting the fact that he disagreed with the 1998 election call. But candidates will also need to be careful. Alfred Sant clearly is hugely popular with a lot of Labour supporters and among the party delegates.
As candidates jostle to win over the middle class, the young and the floating voters, they would also do well to remember that their first electoral test lies much closer to home.
It's a difficult balancing act but it's a good first test for anyone wishing to submit themsleves to all the contradictory and yet powerful demands that being Prime Minister brings with it.
It seems to me that the real business is yet to begin with everyone waiting for others to declare their hand. Hopefully as things hot up we'll have a few more things to debate.
Monday 31 March 2008
Sunday 30 March 2008
MLP Leadership Contest - More Online Debate
For more online debate on the Labour Party's quest for a new leader you can also check out this blog
MLP Leadership Contest - Michael Falzon Joins Race
Michael Falzon's decision to join the contest for MLP leadership is no surprise and to be honest I'm pleased he's taken this step. I've got a lot of time for him and think he's going to make a fine MP.
I'm not sure though about how politicians who are already associated with failure are perceived by the public. I'm clear in my mind that you can't blame him for past MLP electoral defeats but he was very obviously close to the centre and I do think that will be a disadvantage.
I also feel that as yet he hasn't been very clear in what his political vision is. We have had more words on the subject of inclusion but I don't think he has articulated very clearly where he wants Malta to head.
Obviously there's a long road ahead and over the next two months as we get a clearer idea of how things are going to evolve we'll be hearing a lot more on what all the candidates think. What is really positive is that the contest is going to be between high quality candidates. This should mean a good debate about how the Labour Party should move forward and the emergence of a leader with the ability to effectively challenge the Nationalists. Lets hope so anyway.
I'm not sure though about how politicians who are already associated with failure are perceived by the public. I'm clear in my mind that you can't blame him for past MLP electoral defeats but he was very obviously close to the centre and I do think that will be a disadvantage.
I also feel that as yet he hasn't been very clear in what his political vision is. We have had more words on the subject of inclusion but I don't think he has articulated very clearly where he wants Malta to head.
Obviously there's a long road ahead and over the next two months as we get a clearer idea of how things are going to evolve we'll be hearing a lot more on what all the candidates think. What is really positive is that the contest is going to be between high quality candidates. This should mean a good debate about how the Labour Party should move forward and the emergence of a leader with the ability to effectively challenge the Nationalists. Lets hope so anyway.
Saturday 29 March 2008
MLP Leadership Contest - Spring follows Winter
Talk is cheap of course. When I read Joseph's vision for the MLP with its's focus on bringing people with innovative and progressive ideas but who haven't felt comfortable with the party, the need to attract younger people to Labour, and the focus on the environemnt I do find myself nodding with approval. Spring following winter?
The positioning of the message is set very much within the narrative of European social democracy over the past 10 to 15 years following the lead of Tony Blair and Gerhard Schroder. The Blairite vision of social democracy is a damaged brand these days - criticised for realying on too much PR and perhaps fatally undone by the decsion to go to war in Iraq.
But was the vision so bad? I lived in the UK for most of the 1990s and though it's difficult to remember things clearly the country has for the most part been transformed for the better by Labour. At it's heart the new Labour message was a strong and powerful one. We must reward people who work hard, who innovate, who generate wealth. But we must also have a heart. The Government's role must be to protect the vulnerable - and that doesn't just mean people, it means the environemnt as well, and yes - to use a good old socilaist phrase - redistribute wealth to create a fairer society. Not through increasing taxation but through increasing wealth and targeting Government spending where it is most needed.
In Malta I have always felt that Labour has failed to fully take this message on board and to articulate it in a way people, particularly the young can embrace it. Joseph will need to be careful going forward in the way he puts his message across. It's easy to be attacked for being all nice words but no substance. I've always felt the opposite to be true - that if you can deliver a clear and compelling vision it's because you've really thought about it and believe it.
When those attacks come from those who don't believe you can be idealistic about the future of our society, at least Joseph will have some substantive work back up his talk. After all, he's the only MEP whose bothered to do any work for us Maltese over the past few years.
The positioning of the message is set very much within the narrative of European social democracy over the past 10 to 15 years following the lead of Tony Blair and Gerhard Schroder. The Blairite vision of social democracy is a damaged brand these days - criticised for realying on too much PR and perhaps fatally undone by the decsion to go to war in Iraq.
But was the vision so bad? I lived in the UK for most of the 1990s and though it's difficult to remember things clearly the country has for the most part been transformed for the better by Labour. At it's heart the new Labour message was a strong and powerful one. We must reward people who work hard, who innovate, who generate wealth. But we must also have a heart. The Government's role must be to protect the vulnerable - and that doesn't just mean people, it means the environemnt as well, and yes - to use a good old socilaist phrase - redistribute wealth to create a fairer society. Not through increasing taxation but through increasing wealth and targeting Government spending where it is most needed.
In Malta I have always felt that Labour has failed to fully take this message on board and to articulate it in a way people, particularly the young can embrace it. Joseph will need to be careful going forward in the way he puts his message across. It's easy to be attacked for being all nice words but no substance. I've always felt the opposite to be true - that if you can deliver a clear and compelling vision it's because you've really thought about it and believe it.
When those attacks come from those who don't believe you can be idealistic about the future of our society, at least Joseph will have some substantive work back up his talk. After all, he's the only MEP whose bothered to do any work for us Maltese over the past few years.
Wednesday 26 March 2008
Why do it?
Why start a blog to support Joseph Muscat's bid to lead the Labour Party? Well, there are a few reasons. First and foremost, I am - and always have been - a social democrat. But, I have also rarely - if ever - been happy with the way the Labour Party has thought and acted over the years.
In Joseph I finally see someone who can lead the Labour Party out of the shadow of its past and commit it to a truly modern social democratic vision. That, to me means that people have all the opportunity to succeed and fulfil their potential and are rewarded on merit while at the same time ensuring dignity for all human beings - and when I say all I mean all, regardles of age, race, religion, gender, sexuality etc!
I stand to be proved wrong but I think this is a great opportunity for Maltese politics in general to move forward - to be more mature, inclusive and tolerant. More importantly it gives those of us who have always believed in modern progressive politics the opportunity to finally fing a home in the Malta Labour Party.
In Joseph I finally see someone who can lead the Labour Party out of the shadow of its past and commit it to a truly modern social democratic vision. That, to me means that people have all the opportunity to succeed and fulfil their potential and are rewarded on merit while at the same time ensuring dignity for all human beings - and when I say all I mean all, regardles of age, race, religion, gender, sexuality etc!
I stand to be proved wrong but I think this is a great opportunity for Maltese politics in general to move forward - to be more mature, inclusive and tolerant. More importantly it gives those of us who have always believed in modern progressive politics the opportunity to finally fing a home in the Malta Labour Party.
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