Raphael Vassallo
Former Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday lashed out at the commission appointed by the party executive to analyse the March 8 election defeat, arguing that its members, though well-intentioned, lacked the necessary political experience to do their job properly.
Writing in the General Workers’ Union newspaper l-orizzont yesterday, Sant claimed that the resulting report missed the wood for the trees: placing great emphasis on “trivialities”, while overlooking the really important issues that contributed to the PL’s surprise defeat.
For the former Opposition leader, these include: the illegal mass-registration of voters; the squandering of public funds; the ad hoc dishing out of jobs and political favours immediately before the election; as well as the cavalier way in which the Prime Minister (and not “some ferocious political henchman”) made rash promises he knew he couldn’t keep.
Significantly, Sant also repeated allegations, first made by PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia, that votes had been “bought” in the run-up to the election.
Sant also lashed out at the Sunday Times, saying there was no need to heed those who always wanted to weaken the left and the PL. “The Sunday Times and those of the same ilk could not serve as a font of useful advice.”
“Unfortunately, nor can we follow the analysis and advice found in the report on last year’s electoral defeat commissioned by the Labour National Executive,” Sant wrote, saying the report had too many errors of fact and judgement.
He added that those who compiled it had “little clear knowledge of the personal and organisational environment of a political party.”
Dr Sant said he had purposely steered clear of the subject until now to enable the new party leadership to settle in, and so that his well-intentioned reflections would not be misinterpreted.
This is the second time a high profile member of the PL’s previous administration has hit out at the commission’s report into Labour’s electoral defeat. Immediately after its presentation to the PL last May, then deputy leader Michael Falzon – who was singled out for criticism over his role as head of the party’s electoral office – accused the commission of attempting to sabotage his own leadership bid.
But individual members of the commission shrugged off such criticism, arguing that negative reactions were inevitable.
“In politics, whatever you do you will find people who agree or disagree,” Prof. Godfrey Pirotta told MaltaToday. “But before publishing the report, we (the commission) had agreed that we would not discuss its contents afterwards. I have nothing to add to that decision.”
Another member of the commission, Prof. Carmen Sammut, echoed the same sentiment. “We had been approached by the party executive, presumably because they had faith in our capabilities,” she said, pointing out that everyone was welcome to react to the commission’s findings as they saw fit.
From ‘left-of-centre’ to ‘centre left’
In the same article, the Harvard-trained economist also signalled an apparent interest in returning to the front line of Maltese politics: dispensing reams of advice on the PL’s political direction for the future, at a time when old school socialism appears to be making a comeback in the light of the global credit crunch.
Acknowledging the need to reform Labour’s core ideology to make it “more attractive to those who want continuity”, the former architect of New Labour now advocates a transition from the “left-of-centre” politics he tried to introduce in 1996 – which many found indistinguishable from the economic neo-liberalism popularised by Bill Clinton and Tony Blair – to the “centre-left”, which he defines as a policy enshrining traditionally left-wing measures within a framework of continuity.
Sant also argues that “substantial state intervention” is needed at all times to sustain the welfare state, and not only to bail out large corporations the moment capitalism begins to flounder.
Former Labour leader outlines the road to a new beginning:
1. Europe
Labour’s scepticism on EU accession has proved justified, but it is too late to turn the clock back. Labour must create the best opportunities within the EU, while strengthening the European left.
2. The economy Malta needs to diversify and modernise its economic infrastructure, but the necessary economic reforms are not in the interest of the privileged clique that supports Gonzipn.
3. Welfare state Rather than adapt the welfare state to the demands of neo-liberal economic policies, it should be reinvented through substantial state intervention.
4. Education Our current education system places the vast majority of students (both “good” and “bad”) at a disadvantage compared to their European counterparts.
5. Illegal immigration Government has taken advantage of Labour’s decision not to make immigration an electoral issue, and has neglected the national interest. This area needs a concerted political effort without beating about the bush.
6. Environment The private interests that have caused most damage to the environment, are those closest to the political right. This is why Gonzipn continues to allow environmental sacrileges to take place.
7. Corruption Corruption breeds inefficiency and social inertia, and – as illustrated by the JPO case – undermines social and political honesty. This is one area where there can be no compromise.
8. Good governance Gonzipn demonstrates efficiency only when it comes to winning votes. As for the rest, its incompetence is farcical in matters of healthcare, education, environment, urban planning etc.
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