The election of a new leader of a political party was always bound to attract much media attention, discussion, analysis and hype. The two-round election for a new leader was no run of the mill contest coming after Labour’s third consecutive electoral defeat, the publishing of a damning electoral defeat report and with its selective portioning of the blame, it had all the makings for a lively contestation. The last round on Friday presented an interesting spectacle of a very young contestant, enjoying the support of the party machinery vying against a prodigal son returning to the fold with all odds against him. The result, while not surprising, shows a remarkable achievement for Joseph Muscat the 34-year-old, as it also displays an excellent showing for the outsider who against all odds, managed to push the contest to a second round. George Abela comes out standing tall with his credibility rating high. Only time will tell what his political future holds.
The task facing the new leader is daunting. He needs to really put into action a new beginning whereby Labour gets its internal house in order by re-establishing itself as a credible alternative with credible policies, with a leader who can attract new and floating voters and a party organization well oiled to keep the government on its toes. His success will depend on his capacity to unite the party, finding a role for all the four other contestants and his ability to dispel perceptions that his victory simply reinforces the status quo in the party allowing the present administration a further lease of life. Labour must make a break with the past.
While congratulating the new young leader, we would draw his attention to the following few points.
Now that the leadership battle is over and once the deputy contestation is settled, his first task must be to get the party administration elected alive and kicking. The choice of the new secretary general will demonstrate whether Labour really wants to have a new beginning, by electing a new person to this post. Jason Micallef’s position is untenable not only because during the leadership campaign he showed his colours but most especially because he represents a continuation with the past, which Labour must break with at all costs. If he retains his position the new leader’s capacity to create a fresh beginning will be compromised.
The new leader must set about offering a firm but equally credible opposition to government by criticising policies his party disagrees without going on the warpath on matters where in reality there is little disagreement. The days of total opposition and turning down everything should be put to the scrap yard, as should the excessive negative approach to all that government does. Equally, government must never lose sight that the opposition represents just under half the population.
His attention should at first be directed on party affairs. There is much to be cleaned up, changed and done differently with a mental attitude and commitment to bury the siege mentality, which has drained Labour over the years. The party must come to terms with the changes that the government has brought about over the years, increased prosperity, a higher standard of education and social mobility. The party must engage with a growing middle class whose voting patterns are often dictated also by financial considerations. A key platform for the new leader must also be to revisit the party’s relationship with the media and to rethink his own party media. His experience and knowledge of media hopefully will open up a new approach by the Labour Party towards the media and allow an atmosphere of mutual respect to prevail with the party understanding the media’s role to probe and disclose.
Joseph Muscat, on throwing his hat in the ring, stated that he had a 15-year plan for Malta. In reality, he needs an immediate plan to rehaul his own party before embarking on anything else. His election as Labour leader now gives him an opportunity to outline his plans and present them for media scrutiny. We think he too should equally be judged on what he does and not on what he says. We await his promised opening of a new political season.