Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca was last week approached to submit her nomination for the deputy leadership for parliamentary affairs of the MLP, only to refuse the offer after garnering the least number of votes at the Labour leadership elections.
With just 26 votes (2.9% of delegates’ votes), Coleiro-Preca ranked last in a five-horse race, after reaching out to Labour’s veteran core and socialist roots.
But she refused a last-ditch attempt to submit her nomination for the deputy leadership and stand by Joseph Muscat’s side. The other contestants for the post of deputy leader for parliamentary affairs are Carmelo Abela, Chris Cardona, and Anglu Farrugia.
Labour MP Josè Herrera withdrew from the election after having a “change of heart” on Monday. Emphasising his decision was not connected to the election of Joseph Muscat as leader, Herrera said he felt he should concentrate on his parliamemtary work and constituency.
Although Coleiro-Preca had toyed with the idea of standing for the post of deputy leader should she fail to be elected MLP leader, she was reported to have said she could not risk another trouncing at the hands of her Labour colleagues, which could have further damaged her standing amongst delegates.
She stayed away from the Labour headquarters last Sunday when newly-elected leader Joseph Muscat hosted his first rally.
Likewise, Labour MP Evarist Bartolo ranked just a few votes ahead of Coleiro-Preca with 32 votes (3.6%). He wrote in his MaltaToday column last Sunday that he was initially ready to serve as deputy, “but I was told clearly that I was not wanted… those who did not consider me good for the post two months ago cannot expect me to trample over my own self-respect and dignity and beg again for the post now.”
The four contestants for the other role, that of deputy leader for party affairs, are Toni Abela, Clyde Joe Cassar, Labour MP Gavin Gulia and MLP international secretary Joe Mifsud.
The election for the deputy leadership posts will take place tomorrow Thursday at 6pm after the adjournment of the extraordinary general conference.