Many Labour supporters are thirsty for the MLP leadership contenders to air their personal views, policies, visions and aspirations that each and everyone of them has. This cannot be done in the last few days. This should be started right away so that both delegates and paid up members of the MLP will start evaluating and formulating their opinion of who’s the most valid of the lot.
As is known at present, candidates are to submit their candidature a few days prior to the election. The Election Committee should therefore initiate television and radio debates on our media stations right now.
Already five contenders have submitted their intention of contesting. So we know were we stand. If others are interested, these should show their intentions right away. Anyway, if any contender will leave his/her intention for the last moment, then the chances of any hope of being elected will be very limited.
There is no reason of holding back these debates. I believe that they should be run and prepared by high-level academics who are also political analysts. Quite a few of these individuals quickly come to mind. In this way, fairness and partiality will be guaranteed. Debates can be based on different systems, both collectively and individually. Collectively so everyone will hear different views to the same question; individually for contenders to have time to broaden their points on any subject.
Imposition must be made to all candidates not to resort to any mudslinging or personal attacks. The party’s followers definitely are not interested in any personal issues, but want to have sound and basic aspirations for the good of the party and country. Personally, I hate listening now to some people saying they did not agree with outgoing leader Alfred Sant and that they had different views and so on. This kind of behaviour puts me off completely. It also lowers the individual esteem in my view and probably he or she won’t have my vote if members will be allowed to cast their preference.
Letters and articles have already been written on this subject. If any had effect, I don’t know. At least one had the chance of airing one’s views, as is our right as party members. The Election Committee should take heed of its party members’ wishes.
The proposal to have debates between the contenders is gathering momentum all the while. I believe such debates will intensify as members want to know of the worthiness of the leadership contenders before deciding whom to choose. No one can say that nobody has talked or put forward this point to the administration.
Our party simply cannot make mistakes. It has to pick a winner – intelligent, charismatic and knowledgeable and above all a leader who is able to gather all the party forces en masse behind him/her. Members should be given the right to have their say.
If the statute has to be amended for this to happen, let it be so. Let the delegates hold an extraordinary conference to decide on this. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Lino DeBono
Xewkija