Dr Joseph Muscat’s performance as PL leader and prime minister

Desmond Zammit Marmara

As the leader of Partit Laburista, Dr Joseph Muscat has been an absolute success. He has won all the elections he has contested as party leader, including two general election landslides in 2013 and 2017. His success can be attributed to his having succeeded in unifying the party; his creative use of the latest technologies to get the party’s message through to an ever-greater number of people; changing the Labour Party into the Labour Movement and thus welcoming with open arms thousands of ex-Nationalists; giving prominence to youth in all structures of the party bringing in innovative and fresh ideas. As Prime Minister, Dr Muscat can boast of economic success; various social measures benefiting all the social strata; emphasis on equality; and a war on social discrimination.

Dr Muscat also has his critics. Some maintain that “Partit Laburista” today is nothing more than a name as the party has a Leftist social policy, a Rightist economic one, and a very pragmatic approach to policy which excludes all ideological considerations. They also stress that the PL is too close to big business and that this should never be the case in a ‘Labour Party’. The Panama Papers and the controversial role of Minister Konrad Mizzi and Muscat’s Chief of Staff Keith Schembri have resulted in accusations of a lack of good governance and even alleged corruption. Prime Minister Muscat was, of course, absolutely correct when he said he would first wait for the result of the magisterial inquiries on these matters and would then act accordingly.

It is also pertinent to note that much of the criticism levelled at Prime Minister Joseph Muscat regarding Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination has been unfair, having only the sole aim of undermining the Labour government. It is a well-known fact that the journalist had refused protection, so any criticism levelled at the Labour government because the assassination occurred on its watch is out of order. Likewise, attempts to link the Labour government to the motive of the assassination have only been based on groundless and malicious speculation.

Perhaps, Joseph Muscat’s greatest asset as a leader is that he always attempts to solve problems by negotiating a compromise acceptable to both sides, as well as his total adaptability to all people and all situations.