Labour leader contender George Abela revealed yesterday that “a very influential person” from the party had asked him to withdraw his nomination and in return the party would name him as its choice for President of the Republic.
Speaking on TVM programme Dissett yesterday night, Abela revealed for the first time that he was approached by a party person whom he did not name, who faced him with the offer.
“I was approached now to become President,” Abela said. “The proposal was that I do not submit my nomination and they would propose me for President.”
Interviewed by PBS journalist Reno Bugeja, Abela said that “contrary to the spin making the rounds today,” in 1998 the party’s executive had decided to discuss Alfred Sant’s motion to call an early election in front of the general conference.
“One of my objections back then was that this was the prime minister’s prerogative. I took this stand consistently.”
He said Labour was moving towards a policy of convergence on the EU between 1996 and 1998, adding he was present in meetings with Alfred Sant for which George Vella – then foreign minister – was not present.
Abela also said he would like to “normalise relations with the GWU leadership”.
And in direct opposition to Sant’s unpopular howler when he had declared the GWU was the party’s privileged partner, Abela said: “No union should be privileged, the workers should.”
The lawyer and former deputy leader took exception when Bugeja claimed he worked with his own cliques as President of the Malta Football Association. “This is a serious allegation and you have to prove it,” he said.
He said the Nationalists’ tactic was to tell Labourites to vote for him so that they would do precisely the opposite. “The PN is afraid of George Abela,” he said of himself. “They say they would like to have me as Labour leader so that Labourites end up doing the opposite. But I’m sure the Labourites won’t fall for this trap.”
60-year-old Abela said he never stayed in a position for more than 10 years when asked about his age being a factor against him.
He said that if he is not elected he will keep working within the party to secure an electoral victory.

kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt