MLP Leadership Contest - Joseph Muscat's Forty Points

You can read Joseph's forty points here.

The need for reform in Maltese Society

Is anyone really surprised by the findings on date rape in Malta that came out today? If they are then they've had their head in the sand ... or they're the Nationalist Government.

While we've been busy building up our economy and joining the EU, which I belive were good things, one of the things that has increasingly bugged me about the PN is the complete failureto tackle social issues like racism, gay rights, and the fact that women are still secodn class citizens - just look at the way the debate on abortion is conducted.

It's the price we pay for having a Government which is too busy boasting about how Catholic it is but only that type of Catholicism that makes some people believe they are the only ones who have access to the truth.

We need to refocus on looking after people who are disadvantaged in our society and to help those who are treated badly, and have been for so long, to come out from the shadows. To help the weak in society, you really need a party that has social democracy at its heart.

MLP Leadership Contest - Is Dom Mintoff worth it?

So, George Abela wheeled out Dom Mintoff to support him at his latest public meeting.

So, here's a guy who was Prime Minister nearly 25 years ago and who's 91 years old, and who far a large chunk of the electorate brings back nothing but bad memories still sticking his oar in.

Talk about looking to the future!

I've no doubt there's still a constituency that looks to Mintoff but I can't believe that a party who's main problem is attracting younger voters and broadening its support could possibly look to such a divisive figure. George Abela's just made a big mistake!

MLP Leadership Contest - Michael Falzon's Open Democracy

Here's a note Michael Falzon left on Facebook today. He's introduced a concept of consultative referendums within the Labour Party in deciding party policy - and eventually Government policy.

It sounds like a good idea, and as Michael says in his comments it's something that's been used in other EU countries. I'm personally not sure how effective it is in creating coherent policy though.

In reality, people hold contradictory views at the same time. Put at it's simplest, people will vote to cut taxes and to increase services (i.e. raise spending). So, we definitely need to hear a few more detials to see exactly when and how this 'open democracy' will apply

Anyway, here's Michael's article ....

"Punt fejn jista’ jkun li waqajna lura meta mqabbla ma’ sħabna s-Soċjalisti Ewropej, huwa fejn jidħol it-tiġdid ta’ l-identità xellugija tagħna. Dan it-tiġdid huwa meħtieġ, biex il-prinċipji li jsawruna jibqgħu rilevanti għall-ħajja politika tal-lum. Bosta partiti xellugin fl-Ewropa, għandhom strutturi miftuħa li kontinwament għaddejjin jistudjaw xejriet ġodda li jridu jagħtu lill-politika tagħhom fit-tħaddim prattiku tagħha. Hija xewqa tiegħi, kemm-il darba nkun maħtur Mexxej tal-Partit Laburista, li anke aħna nibdew proċess simili.

Kemm minn dak li għaddej fl-Ewropa, u kemm minn dak li ħassejt tul il-kampanja elettorali, waqt it-tħabbit bieb bieb għand iċ-ċittadini, pajjiżna jinħtieġ politika li l-mira ewlenija tagħha tkun li tqiegħed liċ-ċittadin fiċ-ċentru ta’ l-agenda politika. Dan jimplika twessiegħ, kemm fl-istanzi tal-konsultazzjoni, imma ukoll, u forsi aktar importanti, fil-proċessi tad-deċizjoni (”empowerment“).

Dan it-twessiegħ irid isir kemm fuq il-livell governattiv u anke fuq dak tal-Partit. Huwa kruċjali li l-poplu jħoss li l-partit qed imexxi ‘l quddiem l-aġenda taċ-ċittadin; li l-partit huwa l-vuċi tal-poplu. Inutli li l-partit ikollu aġenda mżewqa bi proposti tajbin, jekk il-poplu ma jkunx jidentifika ruħu biżżejjed ma’ dawn il-proposti.

Għal dan il-għan inħoss li l-Partit għandu jagħmel riforma importanti fejn f’sensiela ta’ laqgħat miftuha għall-kulhadd, li jsiru perjodikament, jisma’ mingħand il-poplu x’għandu xi jgħid l-istess poplu, kemm dwar il-politika attwali laburista u kemm dwar proposti ġodda. Barra minn hekk, inħoss li wasal iż-żmien, u dan jista’ jseħħ faċilment minħabba d-daqs ta’ pajjiżna, li meta l-Partit jiġi għal deċiżjonijiet ewlenin tal-politika tiegħu, bħal ma kien il-każ tal-politika ewropea laburista, jkun jista’ anke jikkonsidra li jorganizza referendum konsultattiv fost il-membri kollha tiegħu. B’hekk inkunu ċerti, li d-deċiżjoni li nieħdu fl-istrutturi nterni, tkun tirrifletti s-sentimenti ta’ firxa akbar ta’ nies. B’dan il-mod ukoll, il-membri laburisti jkollhom konvinzjoni akbar għax ikollhom “ownership” tal-politika Laburista, meta jiġu biex iwasslu l-messaġġ tal-Partit.

Dan il-ftuh għal sehem akbar mill-poplu fl-agenda politika tal-Partit (u eventwalment tal-pajjiż) nixtieq insejjaħlu bħala “People’s Labour”; kunċett li jirrifletti dak li għaddej fost il-partiti sħabna fl-Ewropa biex iwieġbu għal realtà komuni għalina lkoll, fl-istess waqt li jkun adattat għaċ-ċirkostanzi tagħna bħala pajjiż. Fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin se nkompli nispjega aħjar kif nixtieq li flimkien, inħaddmu dan il-kunċett.

Illum - 27 ta' April 2008"

MLP Leadership Contest - Support Joseph Muscat

You can show your support for Joseph Muscat by leaving a comment here.

MLP Leadership Contest - Joseph Muscat presents proposals

I also see that Joseph Muscat has launched a new section to his website, focussing specifically on his leadership bid. Among other things it features his own vision for the Labour Party including forty points. As I’m only just back in circulation I haven’t had time to study the proposals. Once I do, I’ll make some comments.

MLP Leadership Contest - Michael Falzon on Facebook

One thing to mention from before I went away was a quick Facebook exchange with Michael Falzon on the very sensitive issue of abortion. Obviously the political consensus in Malta is pro-life and I’ve got nothing against that.

I do worry that the tone with which abortion is discussed could use a little more compassion for women who choose to abort. It seems to me that male dominated Maltese politics doesn’t do enough to help women who for the most part are put into extremely difficult situations by men! Anyway, I’m still waiting for a response on the last point.

That said, I’m sure none of the other candidates would be brave enough to really get stuck in to this type of discussion at the moment.

MLP Leadership Contest - George Abela launches manifesto

I’ve been away for a few days, taking my first holiday in ages and I confess to not having followed recent developments too quickly. A quick glance around the internet tells me that George Abela has launched his manifesto today. There doesn’t seem to be anything really specific in what I’ve read so far, just a repetition of the broad themes that have already been aired.

MLP Leadership Contest – Using new technology

I got a Facebook friend request from Michael Falzon this evening, which of course I accepted. It’s good to see politicians embracing new technology to stay in touch with people. One of the things that really struck me during the election campaign was the amount of online activity the PN were putting out. Hopefully, whoever wins this contest will continue to make the most of the internet to connect with people.

MLP Leadership Contest - Joseph Muscat's Vision for a coaltion of Progressives and Moderates

I know what I like and I like what I hear. Joseph Muscat’s latest article on his website sets out two fundamental truths in politics. It’s essential to have a clear vision and strategy and then you have to work like hell to build a big enough coalition around that vision to get you into power.

It’s good to see that he’s making it very clear that there is a central role for George Abela in an MLP led by him. A coalition of progressives and moderates with a clear agenda for Malta’s role in EU sits very well with my own personal thoughts which I outlined yesterday. Let’s hope on 5 June we can start making this vision a reality.

MLP Leadership Contest - Joseph Muscat on The US Presidential Campaigm

To read Joseph's latest article click here. Guess what? He'd rather Barack Obama became the next US President. Live in hope mate, you know it's going to be John McCain. While the Democracts fight each other to the death, he's going to get stronger and stronger. Obviously, I'm not a great lover of Republicans but I still think I could live with McCain. We'll see.

MLP Leadership Contest - Social Democracy in the 21st Century

It’s been a very hectic week with evenings taken up running around London trying to fit in a million things. Most pressing has been trying to surmount the Curia’s paperwork in order to get things in place for our wedding in Malta in June. You’d never believe how difficult they’d make things for you.

Anyway, moving on. I was up at 6.15 this morning – yes on a Saturday – and headed off to Southend-on-Sea to spend a bit of time canvassing for Labour there with my old mate Kevin Bonavia. How far we’ve come from a small town on a little Mediterranean island. Kev’s going to be Labour’s parliamentary candidate down in Southend at the next general election here. Have the Maltese ever had an MP in the House of Commons? Don’t get too excited though. Southend’s a bit like Sliema. Full of old conservative types most of who would rather sell their daughters than vote Labour. Still, the election after that we might get somewhere!

The train out of Liverpool Street takes about an hour to get to Southend and I took the time to put down a few thoughts on Social Democracy in the 21st Century and how Labour in Malta has failed to redefine it to fit a modern context. This, I feel should be the basis for how we construct a vision for the future.

So, are you ready for a little sermon? There are two interlinked issues which are the greatest challenge for humanity in the next fifty years. These are globalisation and climate change. There is no hiding away from them and Malta is feeling the effects of these forces directly. From more extreme weather to migration and the creation of new jobs needing new skills all of these are directly affecting us in our daily lives.

Now, how are we dealing with these issues? Well, Malta’s entry in to the European Union has for the first time given us a real – albeit small – voice in the decision making process that will actually decide what the world will look like when I’m old and my marbles have long been lost. Having opposed EU entry, the MLP lost the opportunity to put forward a progressive vision of how we use our voice in Europe.

The PN has made a complete hash of the opportunity and has been bogged down with lost of strategically unimportant stuff. But, looking to the future, we need to grasp the fact that solving our local problems in Malta is now, more than ever, a question of solving global issues. Without understanding of the situations facing other countries, the problems that affect us directly are never going to go away.

The only way we can solve these problems is by reenergising the real message of social democracy which has always been about fairness, equal access to opportunity and a commitment to help the weakest in society. In a globalised society, we need to push this message in a global context. It is only by applying our principles in a global context that we can tackle the challenges of climate change as well as economic disparity which is driving so many people to move from their homelands.

Making this link between the global and the local, and presenting the EU as the forum where we can actually contribute to taking the right decisions must be the platform we need to adopt to take the MLP forward and to raise the level of politics in Malta from its current pitiful state. With this overarching view, we can develop a raft of practical policy ideas which effectively help people in Malta to move forward in their lives while at the same time understanding the broader underlying issues.

MLP Leadership Contest - Joseph Muscat's latest statement on car taxation

Just a quick follow up on my earlier post on the news that the Government is finally acting on amending the car registration tax thanks to a campaign Joseph Muscat has been leading in his role as an MEP. He's put a statement on his website to follow up his article from 31 March which you should read. Now, I would say that wouldn't I?

MLP Leadership Contest - The ban that never was

It seems that the on off media ban that was in place for candidates is now definitely off, if what Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said during her press conference stands up. If the party has now decided to let candidates campaign openly then that’s nothing but a step in the right direction.

The concept of a ban worried me, for the same reasons that Union Print’s decision not to cover George Abela’s candidature worries me. My opinion is that Labour’s problem has not been about policies but about presentation and image. Most of the media is structurally against the MLP. There’s no point moaning about it. You just have to be clever.

The standard Labour needs to achieve in terms of its accountability and transparency is higher than it is for PN. Those are the facts, and maybe in the past there was a good reason for it. We should see this fact not as a problem but an opportunity to really raise our game and to take politics in Malta to a totally different level.

I’m banging the same old drum here. Let’s have a good open debate about where Labour wants to go in the next five, ten years and not only make sure we choose the right man or woman to do the job but also transform the party’s image and make it one that demonstrates beyond any doubt that it is inclusive, open and tolerant.

These are great principles of social democracy and living them will not make us weaker. It will help us lift Maltese politics to another level and help to really become European citizens.

MLP Leadership Contest - Joseph Muscat's campaign to reform car tax

Interesting story in today’s Sunday Times about how the new car tax system is going to operate. We all know that the Maltese Government has been breaking EU rules by keeping the exorbitant registration tax and it’s thanks to Joseph Muscat that the current system is finally being reformed.

Of course, those who thought that this would mean cheaper cars are going to be disappointed. The reduction in the upfront cost of cars is going to be offset by a new tax on emissions. Of course, environmental concerns need to be taken into account and the level of traffic congestion needs to be addressed.

If only Tonio Fenech was being honest in his comments about the reasons for the emissions tax. The current pricing structure has not prevented congestion and pollution. The reason for this is clearly the abject failure to invest in public transport.

How much easier it is for the Government to claim its green credentials by taxing us rather than investing in ways to encourage us to use public transport or to car share. It’s just a pathetic excuse and once people realise they are not going to save money on their new car, I’m sure purchase levels will return to pretty much their old levels.

Having made a stand and successfully got the Government to reform taxation on cars, I’m sure Joseph will push on and not only keep the issue in the public eye but also ensure that the dishonest was in which the new tax system is being portrayed is clear to everyone.

MLP Leadership Contest - Open Debate

I’ve been away for a few days. There’ve been far too many things going on and I simply haven’t had time to post much. Firstly, a quick response to the anonymous post. I’ve got nothing against being critical of George Abela and I think the points made about his behaviour over the past few years are totally fair comment.

But I do feel it’s a case of cutting your nose off to spite your face. If the whole country knows what’s going on, to ignore it just makes you look silly. It reinforces the stereotype that the media in Malta love to give the left – that it is not able to conduct itself maturely.

As far as I’m concerned a newspaper has an obligation to report facts and to show respect to the intelligence of its readers and not treat them like children. If George Abela is not the man to lead Labour – which is obviously what I think – then all his failings will come out in any discussion on the position.

The ample editorial space gives every media the opportunity to discuss the merits, or lack of them, of any candidate. So let’s grow up. Let’s have all the facts reported and let’s give everyone the opportunity to defend their record. In that way, at the end of the race no one can have any complaints and the rest of the media in Malta won’t have so many excuses to portray Labour as a party that is not open to debate.

Anyway, I'll be back later.

MLP Leadership Contest - The George Abela Interview

Is it a declaration? Or isn't it? Is it a promise of a declaration? Or a holding position to see whether the rules to elect the party leader will be changed to give all members a vote?

George Abela's interview on di-ve actually doesn't leave any doubt. So why are l-orizzont playing silly buggers and not covering him?

I think it's a real shame that at a time when everyone should be looking at the bigger picture of how to create a united party that can really take on the PN, people are already restoring to this type of playground squabbling.

If we can't even do this, how the hell are we going to get people to trust the MLP with the country. And another thing while I'm at it. Why did Jason Micallef have to comment? Whatever his feelings about George Abela - and I'm sure there are many who agree with Jason's point of view - as the CEO overseeing this election he should stay out of it.

We've got two months to discuss how the MLP goes forward and under which leader. There's plenty of time for heated debate and arguments but let's hope the focus stays on how to make the party more relevant to a wider audience rather than turning into an internal squabble.

Lets have huge rows by all means but lets make those rows productive!

In terms of policy, to be honest there wasn't much content in the interview I feel is worth writing about. Sorry!