I’m not really into the “foot soldier” aspect of Maltese politics and I’m unable to judge Labour’s blueprint for internal reform except for in a very tentative way. Some important posts, such as Party leader, will be elected by the General Conference and Party members in good standing. Other not particularly important posts get phased out or get their means of selection changed from election to appointment. Structures from the silly Labour Brigade to the ludicrous Discipline and Vigilance Board get the deserved axe.
This might look like centralisation and a loss of profile for the General Conference but, considering that the latter Party institution has not show itself particularly apt at choosing Party officials in the last years, I’d say it was inevitable that proposals for change take this direction. Think of the Party leadership put in place since last election. With the exeption of Joseph Muscat things have gotten worse: Anglu Farrugia succeeded Charles Mangion and Toni Abela succeeded Michael Falzon. And Jason Micallef stayed.
But there were other choices which turned out to be historic blunders, the decision to go to the polls in 1998 and replacing George Abela with Joe Brincat soon after, to mention but two. True, these decisions look they way they look with the wisdom of hindsight. But — and here’s the General Conference main shortcoming — it seems unable to benefit from the wisdom of hindsight.
The profile of the Conference, mostly retirees and middle aged housewives, must have something to do with it. So I suppose some more young people in party structures would do not harm especially considering that in a TV programme soon after the last election it became painfully obvious that the Party Secretary-General did not know the number of new voters, almost all young people who had turned 18 since the last election.
Having said all this there is one overall danger in all this. It is to think that the man in the street may care much about the way Labour conducts its internal business. Process is only important in so far as it effects outcome. How that will change is still to be seen.
On a more historical note the official name of the party is to change from “Partit tal-Haddiema — Malta Labour Party” is to change to “Partit Laburista” and the initials changed from “MLP” to “PL”. What will MLPNmongers like Jacques do now?
[...] a name In Political Parties on 23 November 2008 at 8:37 pm Considering that Labour intends to change its official appellation it might be worthwhile to record the many, albeit unofficial, name changes [...]
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