Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday announced he would be stepping down as Labour leader with immediate effect and “irrevocably”.
Speaking during a press conference at the MLP headquarters, during which he said the Labour Party had suffered an honourable defeat in the general election, Dr Sant said he would remain 100 per cent loyal to the Labour Party and its values.
“I am proud that the party has supported me in my leadership. While congratulating (Prime Minister Lawrence) Gonzi, I appeal to him to make sure that his government will not discriminate against anyone. I appeal to him to consider the country as one,” he said.
Asked if he would also resign from his position as Member of Parliament, Dr Sant replied in the negative, saying he would retain his seat in Parliament for the time being; once a new Labour leader is chosen, he would consult with him and take a decision as to whether or not he would remain an MP.
Speaking about the MLP defeat at this year’s general election, Dr Sant said the party lost with one of the narrowest margins in the history of Maltese politics.
Asked about the reasons for the MLP’s defeat, Dr Sant said he would not speculate on this and would leave it up to the party administration.
However, he said, there was “a strong power of incumbency” from the PN’s end, meaning that being the party in government, it used its power for its own means.
He said this was particularly evident with regard to permits granted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) just before the general election.
“Our campaign was effective and we focused on issues that matter to the people – work and economic growth, social protection and good governance. The Labour Party is and will remain an important political and social force in our country.”
He thanked the electorate and all those who voted for the MLP, as well as those who had an active role in the drawing up and implementation of the party’s campaign and its plans, as well as those who had participated in the electoral process at the Naxxar counting hall.
Dr Sant went on to thank the MLP parliamentary group and members of the administration, particularly party president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, secretary general Jason Micallef, as well as Labour deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon.
Asked if he believed the MLP should undergo a reform, he said he would not give the party his advice and interfere in this decision.
Referring to the outcome of the general election, Dr Sant said the last time there was a relative majority of this sort was in 1966, so it is quite a particular situation this time round.
Replying to a question regarding whether he had any regrets, Dr Sant said he did not have any big regrets.
“I do have some regrets with regard to certain small things and those don’t matter. It is the more important things that really matter – sincerity, honesty, genuineness,” he said.
Asked if he wished he had not said certain things during the electoral campaign, he said he actually wished he had said something more.
A new MLP leader will be chosen at an extraordinary general meeting, a date for which the party has not yet announced.