Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525812
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 AUGUST 2024 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt The big shakeup: What's on for a new look Labour Party? NOMINATIONS for Labour's executive roles close today, and a big shakeup of the party's top roles is on the horizon. The internal elections will be held on September 13 and 14, during which, several key roles including the posts of deputy leader for party affairs, and dep- uty leader for parliamentary af- fairs will be up for grabs. The winner will have to obtain 50%+1 of the votes and if none of the contestants obtains such a result, the top two will take part in a runoff. The upcoming internal party elections come following a string of resignations from the party's top brass following a disappoint- ing MEP election result last June. In June, Daniel Micallef, the PL's deputy leader for party af- fairs announced his intention to step down from his post. The fol- lowing month, Chris Fearne an- nounced that he will not recon- test the PL's deputy leadership after a court find enough prima facie evidence for him to stand trial in the Vitals fraud case. In August, party CEO Ran- dolph De Battista had also re- signed, however his vacant post was filled by Leonid McKay, as the role requires no election. Earlier this week, PL president, Ramona Attard announced that she will not run for her position again, saying she is "ready for a new challenge" but will continue to work within the party. Prior to nominations opening last Friday, Labour delegates al- so voted in favour of a statuto- ry change which would allow a sitting MP to contest the role of deputy leader for party affairs. Previously, the Labour Party statute barred MPs and MEPs from contesting the post, which is focused on matters related to the party and its inner workings. The previous limitation on MPs to contest the party affairs post was the result of an amendment pushed by Labour leader Robert Abela in 2020 that reversed a change promoted by his prede- cessor Joseph Muscat in 2016. Who will be running for the posts? Deputy Leader Parliamentary Affairs The role of Deputy Leader Par- liamentary Affairs is reserved for MPs and the person occupying the role automatically becomes deputy prime minister if the PL is in government. So far it seems that only Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg will be contesting the role, meaning he would only be seeking approval from party delegates. Having started his political career as Dingli mayor back in 2005, Borg quickly ascended the political ladder, and was among the group of MPs who helped Labour win the 2013 General Election. He was made Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds by then- prime minister Joseph Mus- cat, before he was promoted to Transport and Infrastructure Minister in 2017. During his time as minister, he was tasked with implementing major, and sometimes controversial, infra- structural projects. In 2022, in what was touted as being his last days in politics, Prime Minister Robert Abela made Borg Minister for Foreign Affairs. He oversaw Malta's dip- lomatic service during its man- date at the United Nations Secu- rity Council. Deputy Leader for Party Affairs The role of the Deputy Leader for Party Affairs within the PL is a position focused on managing and overseeing the internal func- tions and organisational struc- ture of the party. This position is distinct from the Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs, who is more focused on legislative and governmental responsibilities. Only re-elected MEP Alex Agi- us Saliba has announced he will contest the role, after former Secretary General and former ONE Chairman Jason Micallef withdrew his nomination. Agius Saliba, a long-time ac- tivist within party structures including its youth-wing Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti, stepped onto the political stage in 2019 when he was elected for the first time in the MEP elections. He was re-elected as Labour's most popular candidate in this year's MEP election. With the MEP election over- shadowed by charges linked to Vitals Global Healthcare's fraud- ulent concession, Agius Saliba stirred controversy by inviting former prime minister Joseph Muscat, who stands accused with money laundering, bribery and corruption to the launch of his election campaign. His invitation to Muscat had angered Labour leader Robert Abela, and sources who spoke to this newspaper said "Joseph and his clique are supporting Alex Agius Saliba all the way because they see him as a potential leader after Robert Abela and someone who could be sympathetic to their cause." Agius Saliba has continuously defended Muscat, labelling the inquiry "a political vendetta". Party President The role of president is primar- ily organisational and adminis-