You are not a stranger to the party. Why have you chosen to contest the PL deputy leader post?

Eight years ago we took the decision to choose Joseph Muscat as PL leader – a decision that took the PL from being a party waiting to be elected to a party with a project for the future. At this juncture we have new challenge: to choose who is going to take us to the next step in the journey started by Joseph Muscat. I spoke to and listened to people, delegates and other party members and convinced myself that I can serve the party in this role.

 

What can you bring to the table?

I think that the delegates want someone who stands by their side – someone who listens to them, makes time for them and speaks for them knowing full well how they feel. I come from a humble working class background and I’ve served as a delegate, as a member of a section of the PL before climbing through the ranks. I want to listen to the delegates and give time to their aspirations. I want to give them an active role within the party and help the PL grow into a more effective, the most persuasive and relevant political force in Malta.

 

Your campaign is built on one theme, three priorities and 20 concrete measures. What will you change in the party?

These proposals are a labour of love. I have been in the party since forever basically. I always believed in a number of things that are needed to make the party more relevant.

The first priority is for the office of deputy leader to bring stability to the party, allowing the Prime Minister to focus on government work.

Secondly, there must be synergy between the party and the government. While the two should not become one, it is essential to have cooperation between the two. I am already part of the government. If I also become part of the PL leadership I can serve as a bridge between the two.

Thirdly, I believe in the value of social justice – I am a social democrat by conviction. I believe that  everyone in Malta should have the chance to realise their aspiration, independently of background, race, creed, sex or religion.

My aim of being closer to the delegates as well as the three priority areas and 20 point-programme give a clear picture of what I will do if I am elected.

 

Take me through some of these points

I believe that the local committees should attend three administration meetings a year – to have the opportunity to go before the party administration to discuss the priorities most important to them.

I am proposing that, within a hundred days of being elected as deputy leader, I would meet with all the committees and discuss a plan to see how we can increase each and everyone’s involvement in the party.

Another proposal is for the PL to create a new structure that would serve as a facilitator for more meetings between the main social partners – trade unions and employers. I am very excited about all this and I believe that, if these twenty proposals are implemented, the party will become the people’s automatic choice in the next election.

 

Does the fact that you have chosen stability as one of the three main priorities mean that the PL lacks stability? How much has the Panama Papers scandal hurt the party?

I believe that some people were genuinely disappointed by the government’s actions, and we have been very clear about that. The PM has taken decisions which hit a number of people, including some who are his close friends and colleagues.

Dr Muscat has taken decisions which affected the role of Konrad Mizzi as deputy leader and also as minister. Dr Mizzi shouldered his responsibility and even apologized in parliament. I believe that this is unprecedented. I have been in politics for almost 20 years now and I do not remember a single politician who actually apologized in the house. I think that was a very responsible thing to do.

We are currently passing through a period of transition - we’ve moved from Toni Abela to Konrad MIzzi to another election for the post. I believe that the new deputy leader has to hit the ground running, and I humbly believe I can do that.

 

New details about Konrad Mizzi emerge on a daily basis. This week we heard how he and Keith Schembri tried to open Swiss accounts. Is an apology enough?

I believe that the PM has taken decisions on this issue. We have also faced a vote in the house. This shows that we have a PM who does not fear taking decisions. Dr Mizzi is focused on working and delivering – he is a good minister who has achieved a lot of results. I’m sure he will keep delivering, especially now that we are at this juncture that will lead us to the polls again in two years.

 

What type of campaign are you running and what, in your opinion, are your chances?

I’m really doing my best and giving all my energy to it, trying to meet as many delegates as possible. I’m really enjoying it actually. I know it sounds strange but I am enjoying it, and relishing the opportunity to converse frankly with delegates about the issues which are at the heart of what I love most – the Labour Party. The time will come for the delegates to decide. I put my name forward because I believe that I can bring something different to the table. Hopefully, I will have this opportunity.

 

Joseph Muscat will not be Labour Leader for ever. Are you going into this election with future plans of becoming leader?

I hope that Dr Muscat stays on for as long as possible at the helm of the PL because he is such a brilliant leader and I really hope that he will keep heading the party for many years to come. I definitely focused on this role and I look forward to be of assistance to this extraordinary politician who has made Malta such a better place to live in.

 

But would you eventually consider taking up the post in the future?

Honestly I’m focused on what I’m doing right now. I think I’m doing good work as a minister and as a deputy leader I can make the PL a better organized party.

 

What if you don’t win this election? Will you support the person who does?

I’ve been in politics for almost 20 years and during that time I’ve won and lost elections. I believe the electorate is always right and their choices are there to be respected. I’ve always looked forward to keep working with whoever won. But hopefully the delegates will give me the opportunity to serve as deputy leader.

 

PBS falls under your ministerial portfolio. If you become PL deputy leader the party media will also fall under your responsibility. Will this not be a conflict of interest?

No because the One media group has a board of governors, which takes care of day-to-day administration while I would only be involved in the policy. In PBS I am also involved in the policy.

I will of course help out and assist according to what the PL statute says with regards to the Labour media. Rather, it gives me the cutting edge because I have learned a lot over the last three years and I am sure that I could use this invaluable experience to strengthen the PL media.

 

But there is already widespread criticism of PBS being an extension of the PL media. If you win, PBS and One will fall under the same person - you.

No I don’t think it works that way. As you know, anyone who believes that the national station lacks balance has the right to go before the Broadcasting Authority. I’m sure that, despite the criticism by the PN, we have a pretty balanced national broadcaster.

I am often criticised, internally, for retaining a CEO that came over from Net TV, but I beg to differ. And I strongly disagree that TVM is being used as a tool for the PL. If anything, the recent survey showed that TVM news is going from strength to strength.

 

Jason Micallef falls under your responsibility as Chairman of V18. If you’re elected deputy leader he will also fall under you as chairman of the Labour media. Mr Micallef is quite outspoken and highly critical on subjects like the Eurovision.  Have you ever asked him to tone it down?

Absolutely not! I respect everyone’s opinion, including those of friends who genuinely believe in what they say. I distinguish between people who have a bona fide approach and those who do not.

Jason speaks his mind freely but always gives constructive criticism. We may not agree on everything but we have a very good and healthy relationship. If you spoke to him he would confirm this. I look forward to work with him on the PL media if I am elected.

 

Are you afraid that by contesting this election you will be opening yourself to more criticism, including on a personal level? You recently complained about comments on your and your partner’s private life.

There is nothing much to say about my personal life. I am legally separated, like a lot of others. I’ve started a new relationship with a person who is in the public eye, a journalist who does her work pretty well. I am sure that the fact that she does her work well attracts a lot of criticism from the opposite side, which is OK as long as it is within the limits of respect and fairness. Regrettably, some of the comments were unfair and definitely untrue.

That is all I can say about my personal life - I am a father to a beautiful eight year old daughter whom I love tremendously.  I intend to make sure that my life keeps going forward and try to juggle between work and spending quality time with my loved ones.

Janice Bartolo is one of the PL newsroom’s senior journalists. Could this put you at an unfair advantage vis-à-vis the other candidates?

When I put my name forward, Janice decided, completely on her own, to stop reading the news for the duration of the campaign. No one asked her to but she did so out of respect, to make sure no one got the impression that I had an advantage of increased exposure. This also meant a cut in her pay for this month.

This is just one thing in a long list of sacrifices she has had to make just because we are together. But yes, it is part of the game and we will keep moving forward.

Speaking of comments and blogs, it’s not just Daphne Caruana Galizia.  There is also Glenn Bedingfield who, as a future PL candidate will fall under your responsibility if you become deputy leader. Do you find his blog and attitude acceptable?

Let me put this straight immediately - I am not a fan of those kinds of blog. Politics should be about ideas, not personal attacks. But there is a difference between one blog and the other.  We have never ever put up a picture of Simon Busuttil’s partner. I would never put up a picture of his partner and incite personal insults at that person, like Daphne Caruana Galizia does. There is a difference between the two. This being said, I don’t approve of any one of them.

 

When you say ‘we’ are you referring to Glenn Bedingfield’s blog?

No I’m speaking about Daphne Caruana Galizia.

 

But who are you saying never put up a picture of Kristina Chetcuti?

What I’m saying is that there is a difference between the two. Glenn Bedingfield has never put up pictures of Simon Busuttil’s partner for instance.

 

He has, actually.

Yes, but never in the way Daphne Caruana Galizia has done with Janice. Glenn Bedingfield has never invited people to hang anyone by their feet in the Piazza like Mussolini was hanged after the war. There’s a huge difference, but again, I don’t approve of any of those blogs.

 

So would you discourage him, as a candidate, from keeping up his blogging?

No I think that’s another issue – an issue of freedom of expression. We have to appreciate that everyone has the right to choose the way in which they express themselves. What I sincerely augur is that the political parties come together head to head and stop the hate which is being fomented. I believe it is mostly coming from the Nationalist Party side. We need to put an end to it and people like Daphne Caruana Galizia should be put aside because politics should not be about personal attacks and calling people names but about ideas and how to change people’s lives.

 

I am not defending anyone but Daphne Caruana Galizia is not a member of the PN. As far as I know she will not be contesting the general election and she is not a consultant to the Prime Minister. There is a bit of a difference.

Daphne Caruana Galizia does not merit time to discuss her. What I can say is this; it is clear that Simon Busuttil is a very weak leader, the worst leader the PN has ever had. He has allowed his party to bow down to a militant faction which includes Andrew Borg Cardona, who calls Ira Losco all sorts of names, Caruana Galizia and that guy Thake, whose style I definitely do not like.

This is pretty much the situation the PN has found itself in. They are harming themselves and I’m sure they will realise what they have done after the next general election.