Deputy leaders’ role and influence within parties

The Labour Party is about to get a new deputy leader for party affairs after Toni Abela was nominated by the government to the European Court of Auditors. Leonard Callus looks at the history of the two main parties’ deputy leaders and their changing roles and influence within the party hierarchy. The Prime Minister’s tweet on deputy leader Toni Abela’s nomination to the European Court of Auditors has cast a spotlight on the post Dr Abela is about to vacate. Joseph Muscat has spoken of wanting an organiser and moderniser in the position. This responsibility is only the latest devised for the men who have worn the mantle of deputy leadership over the decades. Their role is often vague and, as second-in-command, they are inevitably eclipsed by the leader. “Only exceptionally has the deputy leadership been a path to the party’s top post,” says professor Joe Pirotta, who has studied contemporary Maltese political and constitutional development. Among the best ever, according to history professor Henry Frendo, were Labour’s Joseph Flores and the PN’s Ċensu Tabone (PN) who “did not shy away from a robust confrontation with their leader”. Handled well, in fact, differing viewpoints...