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The Maltese Herald

Robert Abela has lost the Labour Party

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by

Mark Camilleri
in

This story hasn’t been covered much in the mainstream press except maybe, by the Times of Malta, but it’s probably the biggest story in Maltese party politics right now.

Robert Abela has lost the Labour Party and there is a very high probability that the majority of delegates are currently against him. I can not confirm or prove this with statistics or actual evidence. However, the reality is that I am inundated by messages from Labour Party delegates who are all saying the same and consistent thing: they want Robert Abela to leave sooner than later. Leading the rebels’ caucus is Miriam Dalli, however, her support has waned ever since Malta has been left without water and electricity under a record-breaking heatwave. Her projection as future Prime Minister has been ridiculed by her own incredible incompetence and that’s hardly a good sell for an electorate.

Nonetheless, Miriam Dalli’s spirits are high and she is very optimistic given that inside the Labour Party most delegates seem to view Robert Abela’s political career as finished. When Robert Abela left for Sicily following the day he forced his MPs to vote against a public inquiry on Jean-Paul Sofia’s death, Labour Party delegates joked with each other that Robert Abela has left Malta on his yacht to save immigrants stranded at sea like a true socialist would do.

There’s also a rekindling of socialist nostalgia in the Party with delegates lamenting how the Party has lost its socialist principles and values. This nostalgia is not being driven just by political and moral principles, but also by a lack of sense of Party cohesion – the Labour Party of today does not function as it used to with some of its structures working independently from the centre of the Party. The Labour Party of today is fully managed by the centre – Robert and his inner circle. Robert views the Labour Party as his own private fiefdom apart from running it like a criminal enterprise.

Things are going to get very interesting as we progress near the general election, yet this will now be my speculation only. Labour Party delegates have often been braver and more courageous in their dissent when the general election seemed distant. Delegates may choose to give up their rebellion for the sake of remaining in power, however, I suspect that this time it’s different. The Labour Party has been going through a serious crisis since 2019 and the fatigue may be seeping in. There is a sense of desperation in wanting the Labour Party to halt its continued descent into oblivion and irrelevance.

Things may get interesting.

Comments

  1. Simon avatar
    Simon

    Mark, you might be wrong on this one.

    The PL voters and delegates are blindly loyal to the leader. This is different from the PN, which is more of an umbrella party. The PL is a monotone party, which is a negative trait for new ideas, checks and balances, but a positive trait for cohesiveness and unity.

    People might be sending you messages, but that is just a tease and a fraction of the delegates.

    Reply
  2. camillerimark avatar
    camillerimark

    I should have made this distinction prior. Delegates are distinct from members – they are the core of the Party and are the executive members of the local committees. Most of these people are old-time socialists who although may be, very loyal, are more ideologically-driven than members. Keep in mind that the majority of delegates voted for Fearne not Abela. Abela got the vote of the members who are of course more numerous.

    Reply
    1. Kimura avatar
      Kimura

      First of all Robert Abela was never part of the Labour Party. The first time I took notice of him is when he came to the local Labour committee asking for support for his father’s bid as Labour Party Leader. Since that time he was practically unknow to hard core party stalwarts. At that time we sent him and his father packing. Unfortunately we were all set to elect a promising new leader who could lead the party to electoral victory. Little did we suspect at that time that we were supporting the greatest political conman in Maltese history.
      Robert Abela was born with a golden spoon in his mouth as he inherited his father’s business, connections and all the geese that laid golden eggs such as dock workers and their union and the P.A. Labour party stalwarts will never forget that his father abandoned the MLP just when we needed him most after 1998. His father cosied up to the Nationalists and Gonzi eventually made him President of Malta.
      Unlike Chris Fearne or Helena Dalli nether he nor his father for never formed part or militated within the Labour party’s socialist youths organization. Rest assured that labour party stalwarts and diehards never supported his bid for leadership.
      There is no distinction now between labour party delegates and members the majority are aware that the Labour party they once knew and militated for is finished once and for all. Labour party hardcore are disgusted to see the Labour party turned into a latrine for opportinists and turncoats. They are disgusted to be ignored and discriminated against in favour of turncoats and opportunists by the same party they have always supported and believed in. As to how disgruntled labourtites, be they delegates, members or just supporters are reacting that is another matter. But I remind one and all that when Alfred Sant insulted Dom Mintoff, Labour lost the fourth candidate in the 2nd district.
      The true distinction lies between the inner core of the Labour party, the likes of Daniel Micallef, Randolph Debattista Ramona Attard, Cathrine Fenech and other officials who have their snouts continually at the trough. With these one must add the likes of Kurt Farrugia, Carmen Ciantar, Charlon Gouder, Luke Dalli,Chris Galea, Pablo Micallef,Oliver Magro and an endless list of cohorts appointed as persons of trust or consultants within Minsitries or in strategic roles within public Entities. Most of these cannot even spell the word shit and yet they are paid phenomenal salaries and perks.
      The word is out that Labour needs to win the forthcoming general elections but with minimal majority. At least that way delgates, members and local committees will gain the respect they have lost. There were times when the Labour local committees used to have influence and authority over local matters and the needs of the costituents. Today they are treated like simpletons and ignored.

      Reply
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