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Changing times at the top in the GSLP
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A GSLP party advertisement in the New People paper has sparked off major political interest about the future of Joe Bossano as party leader and the prospect of his replacement being Fabian Picardo.
The advertisement said that the GSLP annual general meeting would be taking place on 20 April. Nominations are called for the five posts in the executive committee due for . re-election and for the post of Party Leader also due for reelection. Nominations close on 6 April.
The fact that the post of party leader is up for re-election means that Bossano is keeping to his word, as he has long said that he would step down as party leader this year. In that sense, his stepping down was not a major surprise, although the fact that it is going to happen creates a new situation in the GSLP, which has been dominated by Bossano since it was first launched.
Although he is stepping down as GSLP leader, Bossano plans to stand for
election when the general election takes place, but not as leader.
It would appear that Picardo's election as GSLP leader will be unchallenged, although 6th April is when nominations close, and when the situation will be confirmed. The GSLP has been contesting elections, in alliance with the Liberal Party led by Dr Joseph Garcia, and it is known that both he and Picardo - and obviously Bossano - fully back the alliance which has been making strides- and the latest Panorama opinion poll gives them a lead for the next election.
Thus, the GSLP/Liberal alliance will be contesting the next election due this year, not later than when the 4-year term of the GSD is up in the autumn. The chief minister could stretch it for another few months but this would not be seen as a positive development by the electorate, and there would be accusations of Caruana wanting to clinch to power for even after the 4-year term.
28-03-11
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