The executive of the Labour Party has proposed major changes to the party statute – ranging from amendments to the party name to the dissolution of the Disciplinary Board and the Brigata Laburista.

The proposals include the creation of a National Congress to decide on the appointment of the party leader and the abolition of a number of posts in the party administration, although there is no repeat of unofficial proposals to abolish the post of deputy leader (party affairs).

The main changes, proposed by the party executive are:

Name and emblem

The executive is proposing to change the official name of the party to Partit Laburista (PL) from the current “Partit tal-Haddiema – Malta Labour Party”.

The party emblem would also be changed. The historic torch would be retained but the emblem would be updated to current times, the party said.

Vision

The executive is proposing that the Vision of the party as laid out in the statute would be that this was a political organisation grouping progressive-minded people and based on social democratic principles aimed at improving the quality of life of society.

National Congress

The executive is proposing the creation of a National Congress, formed of members who would have been in the party for at least five consecutive years.

The congress would be responsible for the appointment of the party leader and the approval of the electoral programme.

When more than two candidates would have been nominated for the leadership, the general conference would reduce the number to two and then it would be the members of the congress who would appoint the leader.

The congress would also be summoned before a general election to discuss the political perspectives of the electoral programme.

Youth presence at the general conference

The proposed amendments provide for a doubling of the number of youths among the delegates at the general conference. At least one seat in every committee would be reserved for young people. Places would be similarly reserved for women and veteran members so that, the MLP said, the general conference could better reflect Maltese society. The number of places reserved for local councillors would be doubled to strengthen the representation elected directly by the people.

Two places on the party executive would also be reserved for youths.

It would also be possible for experts in particular fields who could contribute to the party discussion to be co-opted as conference delegates for one year to help in the formulation of party policy.

Party delegates would be given mandatory training so that they could be more up to date on political thought.

The executive was targeting at least 40% of delegates representing each gender.

The number of delegates would be more proportional to the number of party members in each locality, and no local or district official could remain in office for more than 10 consecutive years.

Other organisations forming part of civil society, such as student organisations, could be affiliated to the party and given a voice through delegates at the general conference

The membership

As already proposed by party leader Joseph Muscat, the age threshold for party members would be brought down to 16. New members would have to declare that they agree with social democratic principles.

National Administration

The executive is proposing to remove the posts of Public Relations Executive and Financial Secretary and those roles would be performed by persons appointed for the purpose.

The post of Education Secretary would also be removed and instead the national executive would appoint the chairman of the new Social Democratic Foundation (IDEAT) as a member of the administration. IDEAT will be a merger of the Guze’ Ellul Mercer and Mikiel Anton Vassallo foundations and would be a centre for political study.

A representative of local councils appointed by councillors and an Organisational Secretary would also be appointed to the administration.

Labour Brigade, Disciplinary Board to be dissolved

The Brigata Laburitsta would be wound down since the educational role would be vested totally in IDEAT.

The Vigilance and Discipline Board would also be dissolved. Instead, a code of ethics would be adopted and members would be expected to observe it. Decisions in this area would be taken by the party administration and executive.

Gozo

Gozo would be recognised as a region with a particular structure to meet its needs.

The party said these ideas were the fruit of ideas made by the party structures and over 500 suggestions by the public.

Following Monday’s egm, the proposed amendments would be discussed in workshops and the conference would meet again on Friday and Sunday.