Jason Micallef, rabble rouser, has decided to not contest the post of deputy leader of the Labour Party. Micallef fits the position perfectly as he is rude, uncultured, inept. He’s only given positions of power because he is a rabid Labourite.
Micallef made way for someone better. Better in this case could mean anything: better for Micallef not to be shown up as unwanted by the delegates; better for the party to show it is not split into factions; or better for Joseph Muscat to drive a few more stealthy knives – metaphorically of course – into Robert Abela’s back.
With all the knives being regularly shoved into his back, the Prime Minister will soon resemble a walking porcupine or, as a predecessor of his had described himself, Saint Sebastian when he was covered in arrows.
In whatever way the Labour Party propaganda machine tries to gloss it over, the latest Jason Micallef foray is not good news for Abela. Neither is Micallef abandoning the contest.
Jason Micallef is one of the Labour Party’s dinosaurs and a true relic of the worst horrors of that party. When his mentor and friend, Joseph Muscat, was in trouble with the law, Micallef rushed to his defence, summoned the angry Labour louts and joined forces with other rabble rousers like Manuel Cuschieri.
All was orchestrated to show that Joseph Muscat, even if not directly involved in politics, is still calling the shots. Certainly those of the old tribal Mintoffian element of the Labour Party: he has in his control the elements which attract and manipulate the real hardcore, the ones who shout out that they are Labour bred and Labour they will be until their final breath. Come what may, come rain or shine; even if Labour is shown to be terrible for the country, these hard-core people would vote for them and sing their praise till kingdom come.
As Robert Abela has little control over the masses, he is in a tight spot. By doing away with Jason Micallef, he thought he had absolutely checkmated Joseph Muscat. But the latter, once perfectly described as the Artful Dodger, is turning into Robert Abela’s worst nightmare. Muscat has gone from mentor to tormentor.
Because, instead of Jason Micallef, Abela must now contend with Alex Agius Saliba, the tormentor’s new puppet and defender in chief.
If Jason Micallef could have been considered old hat and finished, this Agius Saliba is a raging menace. Micallef’s CV shows nothing but losses when he led the election campaigns for Labour. Yes, that’s how long Micallef has been in politics – from the time when the Labour Party used to lose all elections, the bulk of which had Micallef as electoral strategist.
Agius Saliba thundered his way into stardom during the MEP elections. He is not just a rising star: he managed to dominate a sizeable chunk of the Labour vote. He therefore must have very good credentials with the Labour grassroots as Joseph Muscat’s total lackey.
Even if Muscat was criminally indicted, his endorsement of Agius Saliba still helped the latter garner his amazing number of votes. Agius Saliba spoke glowingly of Muscat and insisted that all the proceedings against Muscat were a nefarious fabrication.
Agius Saliba then defied Robert Abela’s clear instructions to back Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament by abstaining.
Metsola of course has never been forgiven for flicking off then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat when he attempted to shake her hand during an official EU visit to Castille.
This and more actions by Agius Saliba show what is in store for Robert Abela.
Alex Agius Saliba is in a position which Jason Micallef could never be in. Agius Saliba won over half the total number of votes cast for the Labour Party in the 2024 MEP election. Micallef could never vie for the leadership of the Labour Party. Agius Saliba surely can.
With Jason Micallef fleeing the election of deputy leader, Robert Abela is now faced with a huger, scarier scenario. And Malta, poor old suffering Malta, must now contemplate a takeover of the Labour Party by rogues who still think the sun shines only because Joseph Muscat lets it.
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