The Malta Labour Party spoke at length about the need for a new beginning for Malta. And now, after losing the election, it must seek a new beginning for itself.

It was wrong that the party confirmed Alfred Sant as its leader after the fiasco during his stint as prime minister, and more so after he lost the battle against European Union membership.

Keeping a leader in place when this leader lost three national polls – the 1998 and 2003 elections, as well as the EU referendum – was something that no forward-looking party would have done.

By staying on, Dr Sant became the Nationalist Party’s biggest weapon. His track record was of a prime minister that failed to conclude a five-year term in office and wanted to keep Malta out of Europe. What more could the PN want?

Labour know that the fact that Sant stayed on as leader cost them the election. That Sant stepped down after his fourth electoral defeat was, to use a phrase dear to the MLP, “too little too late.

The MLP must now seek the right leader to guide it through this hard time, and enable it to re-emerge strongly before the end of the current term.

Sandro Micallef

Mosta