The launch of the Moviment Laburista Popolari (MLP) was one of the best-kept secrets in Maltese politics. Until Dr Anna Mallia laid the wreath on the Sette Giugno Monument on Wednesday, there were few people who knew of the existence of the organisation.
However, the PN media had been told two weeks in advance, sources familiar with the Labour camp told this paper. This explains the extensive coverage given by NET TV (with two cameras) and In-Nazzjon on a public holiday.
The usually articulate Anna Mallia limited her declarations to a statement prepared in advance and nothing more. With their studied silence, the founders of this movement have roused a lot of curiosity among Labour supporters.
Who are the people behind this movement? What are they going to do? Will they contest the next general election or not?
Our sources said there might be some “ghosts from Labour’s past” – not necessarily the distant past – involved. There are all the tell-tale signs that this project has been well-studied in advance, not the usual CNi ramshackle way of doing things, they said.
The fact that the Moviment had a place with the other constituted bodies to lay a wreath at the Sette Giugno monument shows an expert knowledge of protocol.
Even the choice of the name itself, Moviment Laburista Popolari, has multiple layers of interpretation. It is professing itself to be the “Popular Labour Movement” which is close to the grassroots, as against the official Labour Party, which it perceives as being distant from the grassroots.
Therefore the main target audience of this movement are the grassroot Labour supporters, who might not have relished the quick change in party policy on the EU, and the more recent stand taken on the EU Constitution.
Our sources described the emergence of this new group as “the biggest threat” seen in recent years within Labour. The party will have to assess the real strength of the group and act accordingly.
“If the matter is handled badly, then it could lead to a split within the Labour Party,” they said.
Indeed, there has been no love lost between Dr Mallia and the Labour leadership. Just one day after the Moviment was launched, Labour leader Sant described it as a political gimmick which he should not comment on.
In an interview published on the same day, Labour general secretary Jason Micallef described Dr Mallia as “reject” who cannot seem to find shelter anywhere.
“She doesn’t worry us; she doesn’t interest us and she doesn’t affect us. I really can’t see Dr Mallia making any impact. This was the joke of Sette Giugno,” Mr Micallef said.
However, the use of the term ‘popolari’ – usually associated with the Nationalist side – might also hint at the presence of disgruntled Nationalist MPs within the movement’s ranks.
If this were true, then the ‘third party’ might really be taking shape.