Konrad Mizzi set to become Labour deputy leader

Konrad Mizzi is set to be elected Labour deputy leader by the end of the month as he enters the race uncontested.

Nominations close tonight at 8pm and Mizzi, who submitted his nomination on Saturday, is now all but certain of becoming deputy leader for party affairs.

The post was not open to MPs but his nomination was made possible following amendments to the party statute's approved last Friday by the party's delegates.

Despite not being a party stalwart in the mould of his predecessor Toni Abela, the energy and health minister will bring in his managerial skills to the party.

Moreover, Mizzi – a newcomer in the last general election – seems to have won the support of the party’s grassroots with his successful delivery of the reduction in energy bills, the investment in a new gas-fired power station and the ongoing reform in the health sector.

The energy minister has made it very clear to party insiders that his only interest is to modernise the party and insisted he has no leadership aspirations.

He will be replacing Toni Abela, who was nominated for the European Court of Auditors. During his eight-year tenure Abela has been very popular with the party grass roots, especially with veterans, but he had not been heavily involved in the organisational structure of the party since this was the remit of the CEO.

His departure was catalysed by an open secret that he was finding the political pressure too much to handle and that he wanted a change. But in spite of his fiery character he remained loyal to Muscat.

Labour insiders have described the state of the party as pitiable and there has also been much criticism for CEO and former Labour MP Gino Cauchi, who has failed to galvanise change in the party structure and lacks the popularity to attract more volunteers and members to the party.

The dire state of the party structure has attracted the attention of the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who has expressed his concern that without a strong party structure he will suffer at the polls.

Muscat said he wanted the new deputy leader to work on the “party-government synergy.”

Mizzi seems to enjoy wide support within the Parliamentary group as a number of MPs who had been touted as possible contenders, including justice minister Owen Bonnici and tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis endorsed his candidature, effectively ruling themselves out of the race.

The election will be held on 25 February.