PL executive approves Muscat’s deputy leader proposal

The Labour Party’s executive branch has unanimously approved Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s internal policy proposal that would allow a MP to succeed Toni Abela as deputy leader for party affairs.

The Labour party structure includes two deputy leader posts – one for parliamentary affairs currently occupied by deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech, and another for party affairs currently occupied by Toni Abela. According to a long-standing policy, the deputy leader for party affairs cannot be a serving MP and is forbidden from contesting the general election.

However, Muscat on Sunday proposed to remove this requirement from the party code during an extraordinary party conference that has been scheduled for Friday, which could pave the way for a serving Labour MP to be elected to replace Abela – who will resign the post to succeed Louis Galea as Malta’s representative at the European Court of Auditors. 

Muscat's proposal will now be discussed during an extraordinary party conference on Friday.The PL executive will also propose that nominations for the post of deputy leader open on Saturday and close three days later.

The election has been set for Thursday, 25 February. If necessary, a second election will be held the following day.