One of the conclusions that one can make regarding the last general election is that the younger generation played a very important part in it. I am personally convinced that the majority of youths wanted an alternative to the Nationalist government, but on the other hand the Labour Party was not convincing enough for them.

Therefore, the main challenge that the Labour Party needs to work on is to attract as many young people as possible to the party. When I say young people, I don’t only mean the under 35s, but also the under 18s, who will be voting in five years’ time.

I have had worrying reports from various people where traditional Labourite families couldn’t convince their children to vote Labour, not because their children had any obligation to do so, but because even though their children knew we needed a change, the Labour Party was not convincing enough.

The Labour Party needs to start making its voice heard in various educational institutions and other places which are frequented by young people. The party needs to listen to what these youths are saying, analyse all the criticism it receives and ask them what plans they have for the future.

If we want to earn the trust of these youths, we also have to start appealing to the middle class. While the Labour Party still needs to take care of the working class and those who remain at the bottom of the social ladder, we also need to acknowledge those who have made a success of their life. These people need to feel comfortable going to the Labour Party, speaking to its members and at the end of the day even voting Labour.

In my opinion, these are some of the considerations the party delegates need to bear in mind when they decide to choose the new party leader. This is an important decision not only for a successful Labour Party, but also for the good of the country, so that we will have a dynamic and worthy opposition as soon as possible.

Above all, I believe that the delegates should choose the candidate most likely to attract the greatest number of youths to the party as party leader.

I cannot end this article about youths without referring to the FZL (Forum Zghazagh Laburisti).

While showing my appreciation for all the work carried out by these youths in the past months, I appeal to them to increase their hard work. These youths should try to convince their friends and fellow youths who attend the same schools and places of entertainment, to look to the Labour Party for their future needs and aspirations.

Silvio Parnis is a Malta Labour Party MP

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