Labour MP Chris Cardona, one of the contenders for MLP deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, stressed the need for the party to rethink its policy-making mechanism yesterday.

Addressing a press conference at Cordina Hall in Birkirkara yesterday, Dr Cardona publicly congratulated Joseph Muscat for having been elected new Labour leader.

“I’ve known Joseph for the past 20 years or so. He is an organised, innovative person who has good foresight and great integrity,” said Dr Cardona.

Referring to his slogan, “Partit Laburista rebbieh” (a victorious Labour Party), Dr Cardona said that it was by chance that he and Dr Muscat had chosen similar slogans.

The new Labour leader’s slogan in the run-up to last week’s election was “Generazzjoni rebbieha” (a victorious generation).

“Allow me to use Dr Muscat’s idea that the MLP has to be a far-reaching movement of progressive and moderate views.

“In order to have a victorious party, we need to have a leftist movement that brings together social partners, groups and organisations, in a bid to better reach out to the Maltese electorate. We have to have a more credible party to be able to win the next general election.”

Dr Cardona said that the important post of deputy leader for parliamentary affairs would have to fit into the parameters of the new leadership’s vision to have a movement of progressive and moderate views.

This would mean that the party would preserve its socio-democratic principles, while working towards having a progressive European country with a clear agenda, he said.

The MLP has to rethink its policy-making mechanism in a way that makes its policies bullet-proof and water-tight.

“We cannot afford to have policies that do the party harm on the eve of an election as this goes against the MLP’s fundamental aims. Rather, policies have to be attractive to the people and their needs.”

Again speaking on very similar lines to Dr Muscat, the contender for MLP deputy leader for parliamentary affairs said the party’s political agenda has to reach a wider range of people, especially young people. “We have to start working towards being a party for everyone,” he said.

Lastly, Dr Cardona, a Labour MP for the past 12 years, appealed to party delegates to choose new deputy leaders who offer their “absolute, unconditional loyalty” to the new Labour leadership and the party at large.