Watch: Keith Schembri – ‘I’ll Do My Utmost To Make Sure PL Wins The Next Election’
Former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri said he will “do his utmost” to make sure the Labour Party wins the next election.
“I’m still a Labourite, I’m helping Robert Abela keep progressing, and I’ll do my utmost to make sure the PL wins the next election,” Schembri said on Ricky Caruana’s podcast.
In the interview, Schembri – who served as chief of staff under Joseph Muscat and was forced to resign in the 2019 political crisis- was asked about Muscat’s decision to call a snap election in 2017.
He confirmed that he played a leading role in convincing Muscat and his wife Michelle to go down that route, stating he was convinced the PL would increase its majority.
“Carrying out an election campaign is a piece of art,” Schembri said.
He confirmed that the PL’s campaign strategy focused on the solidification of its core vote, and said it should do the same in the next election.
“If the PL solidifies its core, no one can touch it,” he said.
Schembri also confirmed that PL’s decision to hold an election in June was a strategic choice, since public sentiment tends to be more positive in the summer months.
“I strongly believe in the importance of people’s emotions,” he said. “With summer approaching, people would grow tired of politics and everyone repeating the same things.
“In a summer election, people would say they’re going out to vote – and then head off to the beach or a village feast or whatever. It makes a lot of difference in people’s minds.”
Cover photo and video: Ricky Caruana Podcast