Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1192401
The context: the dark cloud of murder Joseph Muscat's departure had to be a grand exit but it turned sour the moment his most trusted aide was implicated in Daphne Caruana Galizia's assas- sination. The Prime Minister now leaves in a storm of protests and under the dark cloud of murder hang- ing over his office. Muscat's resignation became inevitable after the name of his former chief-of-staff Keith Schembri cropped up during court testimony in the Caruana Galizia murder case. The jury is still out as to wheth- er Muscat had to step down immediately – thousands have taken to the streets demanding he leave now, a chorus that has been joined by some senior La- bour exponents – or stick to his plan to leave in January. But the whole affair has spi- ralled into a political crisis that has jammed the country to a halt. There are historical precedents of party leaders stepping down while occupying the post of prime minister – Dom Mintoff did it in 1984 and Eddie Fenech Adami did it in 2004. Muscat's departure, though, comes as a forced exit deter- mined by circumstances he had no control over. It is within this convoluted situ- ation of unprecedented propor- tions that Labour Party mem- bers will be choosing not only their new leader but Malta's next prime minister. Chris Fearne and Robert Abela were the only two to put forward their name as contestants when nominations closed last week. The two-horse race means that the decision about who will suc- ceed Muscat will be taken direct- ly by party members on 11 Janu- ary. It will be the first time in the party's history that the leader will be elected by party members and not just delegates. The party: melting glue There is no doubt that under Muscat's leadership the Labour Party transformed into a broad church that delivered massive electoral victories in the past decade. Muscat sought to transform the party into a movement that brought to together traditional Labourites, moderates and lib- erals. In some instances, there was little that connected the dif- ferent factions except Muscat's persona, his can-do attitude and the political acumen that could anticipate concerns and aspira- tions. The PL transformed from a party opposed to EU member- ship that scorned gay marriage as an imposition from the EU, to a party in government that led Malta's first presidency of the EU and legislated for wide-ranging and revolutionary civil liberties. It transformed from a party that frowned upon privatisa- tion to a party that embraced big business. And this was all thanks to Muscat's mantra that placed economic growth as a precursor to social justice. Within this change, Muscat's PL welcomed within its fold scorned Nationalists and pushed them forward as part of its mis- sion statement, 'you may not agree with us but you can work with us'. He also brought in peo- ple with no roots in the PL, who helped inject a more business- like and managerial attitude. The party transformed into a mean campaign machine that trounced its political opponents at every turn. Labour in government deliv- ered economic and social pro- gress, stability and gave Malta a greater standing in the EU. This stellar trajectory was not without its problems. The environment took a back seat, big business increasingly appeared as if it called the shots and ordinary Labourites felt that PN converts were preferred to the 'soldiers of steel'. Others in the country felt that cronyism and nepotism increased, and law and order took a nose dive. But everything was kept togeth- er by Muscat and the calming ef- fects of financial well-being that benefitted many families. The strains caused by the Pan- ama Papers scandal in 2016 that exposed the offshore companies of Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister's former chief-of-staff Keith Schembri, were forgotten after Labour's historic win in the 2017 general election. However, the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Oc- tober of 2017 rocked the coun- try. Muscat tried to lead, prom- ising that "no stone will be left unturned" in the murder inves- tigation. But as the Prime Minister aspired for normality in the months that followed – it also led the PL to another historic victory in the European Parliament last May – nothing could prepare the country for what happened last month. The police arrested business- man Yorgen Fenech as the mas- termind behind Caruana Gali- zia's murder, the middleman in the crime was given a presiden- tial pardon and fingers started being pointed at Keith Schembri. What should have been Mus- cat's moment of glory – priding himself in having the murder solved under his watch – turned into his downfall. After having defended Schembri's Panama escapade for three years, Mus- cat had to deal with the fallout of having his most trusted aide be- ing implicated in the murder. Muscat announced his resig- nation in a lacklustre televised address as people took to the streets in protest and Labour MPs and functionaries piled in- ternal pressure. The protracted exit has caused uncertainty and political upheav- al in the country. But for the first time under Muscat's leadership, the PL appeared lost. The Prime Minister lost the legitimacy to choreograph his own exit and ensure a smooth transition. The Muscat glue that kept La- bour together started to melt. Grassroots Labourites took to social media, deriding the op- portunist PN-converts. Anger mounted over the Johnny-come- latelies such as Keith Schembri, who was blamed for bringing Muscat's and the PL's legacy to its knees. Others who gravitated towards Labour as a result of Muscat felt betrayed but also appealed for understanding. For the first time in 11 years, the PL faces internal turmoil, anger, frustration and sadness at how the glory days came crash- ing down in a jiffy. Not all is yet lost. A MaltaToday survey has shown the PL still enjoying mas- sive support. But with the Muscat glue melt- ing away it will be up to the next leader to determine the best way forward for a bruised party and a wounded country. The aspirants: Malta marida, medicina… In the 1970s, PL supporters adopted the maxim Malta mari- da, mediċina Mintoff to extol the leadership qualities of their dar- ling at a time when the country was passing through a very sen- sitive economic transformation in its road towards ending the British military presence on the island. Today, the country faces a different set of problems of a far more serious nature. With criminality having infiltrated the corridors of Auberge de Castille, Malta's malaise requires shock therapy. Malta is sick and needs its med- icine urgently. The two men who have stepped forward to right the wrongs, Chris Fearne and Robert Abela, came to the forefront of politics under Muscat's wing but now aspire to lead at a very in- convenient time. Chris Fearne The 56-year-old paediatric sur- geon had been active in the PL during his youth days but gained political visibility shortly after Muscat became leader in 2008 when he accepted to address a protest meeting against the ris- ing cost of living. He went on to contest his first election in 2013 as one of Mus- cat's new faces and got elected. Fearne was appointed parlia- mentary secretary for health in the 2014 reshuffle. He served under Konrad Mizzi's wing. Two 8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 DECEMBER 2019 NEWS Trust me, I'm your next PM Labour Party members will choose their next leader in January. But the winner will also be Malta's next prime minister. KURT SANSONE takes a look at the aspirants and the context in which they will do battle Chris Fearne Age: 56 Profession: Paediatric surgeon Status: Married Elected first time to parliament: 2013 Role in Muscat's administration: In 2014, he was appointed parliamentary secretary for health. In 2016, Fearne was appointed health minister, a post he retained after the last election. Fearne became deputy prime minister when he won the race for PL deputy leader in 2017