Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525930
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 AUGUST 2024 ANALYSIS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt AT face value, the forthcoming changes in Labour's leadership posts can be seen as a balancing act between different factions, with tensions between the old guard loyal to disgraced former party leader Joseph Muscat and those loyal to Prime Minister Robert Abela being pre-emp- tively defused by a 'compromise solution.' Having warded off an insur- gency led by former general secretary Jason Micallef, who for a time considered becoming deputy leader for party affairs, Abela has settled on a new troi- ka consisting of himself, MEP Alex Agius Saliba, and cabinet stalwart Minister Ian Borg. This suggests that a dimin- ished Abela has opted for the least damaging outcome after failing to co-opt his own team, after an electoral drubbing which left him more vulnerable to internal attacks. While Agius Saliba basked in the endorsement of former leader Joseph Muscat during the run-up to the MEP elec- tions, where he garnered near- ly 60,000 first-count votes, Borg is perceived as a bridge between different factions, de- spite serving in Muscat's cabi- net and leaving a questionable legacy as a 'doer' in transport and planning. Borg, the ultimate Teflon pol- itician who has so far avoided any serious injury from the scandal ridden authorities un- der his watch, also has a re- markable ability to work with everyone and is seen by dele- gates as a safe bet. The whole and the sum of the parts However, Labour insiders be- lieve that any analysis of the situation within the party must consider the ambitions and the added value which Agius Sali- ba and Borg bring to the table. In short, they contend that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. While factional rivalries exist, delegates also know that both Alex Agius Saliba and Ian Borg are ambitious politicians with their own agendas, networks, and resources. They are unlike- ly to accept the role of proxies for others and will now be ex- pected to deploy their energy for the party. Their future am- bitions now depend on shor- ing up support for Abela and reversing the negative trend of the past year. They must now show that they are in it togeth- er. A major consideration for Ab- ela was reigning in potential ri- vals by keeping them close. He surely cannot afford a repeat of Agius Saliba's insubordina- tion, as was the case when the MEP voted against Metsola's appointment as EU Parliament president. Yet, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, and much depends on the chemistry that emerges between the three strongmen. While some insiders fear Ab- ela's paranoia and inability to share power, others point out his ability to coexist and thrive in tandem with Chris Fearne despite the fallout from an ac- rimonious leadership contest in 2020. Of course, this does not come without difficulties. As a sit- ting MEP, Agius Saliba will have to rely on his own net- work to wield his authority in the party. The appointment of his campaign manager, Leonid McKay—whose competence in public service is widely recog- nized—as the party's new CEO suggests that Agius Saliba al- ready has an operational plan. More unpredictable is Jason Micallef's role as "special del- egate," entrusted with oversee- ing the party's electoral mani- festo implementation in a role that turns the outspoken critic, also known for his sympathies for Muscat, into a watchdog of Abela's executive. Labour's only contest With Agius Saliba and Ian Borg uncontested in a sign of unity dictated by Abela's fear of hubris, the only significant contest left is for party presi- dent, between former PBS ed- itor Norma Saliba and former Msida mayor Alex Sciberras. This may well turn out to be the only unpredictable out- come left in the forthcoming conference, where both Agius Saliba and Ian Borg have re- mained neutral, officially en- dorsing both candidates. Moreover, what makes this contest interesting is that it goes beyond the current fac- tional divides and could pro- Labour in labour again? Will changes in key leadership posts reinforce the inf luence of the Muscat old guard, or is a new winning team with ambitions of its own finally emerging?