Labour leader prepares female Labourites for ‘a new era’

Labour Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has urged the women's section within the Labour Party to embrace the change that the section was to undergo.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Għaqda Nisa Laburisti, Muscat said the section needed to change not only in the way it did its thinking but also in the structure to reflect today's society.

He urged the section to see that on it sat representatives from all walks of lives: whether they were youths, women of career, housewives or pensioners.

"It also means opening the doors and allowing men to take part in the discussions. We cannot see society as one where only women are interested in female issues. As a father of two girls myself, I know that I would be interested in various matters," Muscat said.

He encouraged the female section to discuss matters that went beyond family matters, included careers, health, education and other social aspects, which gave a new definition to women's roles.

"There are many glass ceilings which women have not managed to break yet. You know that my aspiration is to push women's role high up during this legislature," he said.

During the electoral campaign, Muscat had repeatedly spoke about his "dream" to lead "the most feminist government this country has ever seen".

Muscat said he envisaged the Għaqda Nisa Laburisti to undergo the same changes that the youth section, FZL, underwent in the recent past. "Exciting times are ahead," he added.