Fenech Adami bows out as PN leader

Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday ended weeks of speculation about his political fate by announcing his decision to step down as leader of the Nationalist Party after 27 years at its helm.

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters in Pietà, flanked by deputy prime minister Lawrence Gonzi and general secretary Joe Saliba, following a meeting of the executive committee and the party's parliamentary group, Dr Fenech Adami yesterday said he believed the time was ripe to initiate the process leading to his succession.

It is set to be a short, intense campaign for those who will decide to contest the top post, since it was decided yesterday that the election will be held in three weeks' time. The leading contenders are Dr Gonzi and Finance Minister John Dalli.

Dr Fenech Adami, who yesterday turned 70, admitted it was a rather strange way of celebrating his birthday having to go through the process of informing the different party structures that the time has come for him to step down.

On what he intended to do once he will resign as party leader and prime minister, Dr Fenech Adami said he wanted to be a "free man" and to finally "shed the burden of responsibility".

He said he would like to spend much more time with his wife, his five married children and seven grandchildren.

Dr Fenech Adami, born in Birkirkara and a lawyer by profession, is known as a family man and a devout Catholic. He contested his first general election as a Nationalist candidate in 1962 and 1966, both times unsuccessfully, but in 1969 was co-opted to the House of Representatives to fill the vacancy created by the death of Nationalist MP George Caruana.

After he was re-elected in 1971, when the Nationalist Party was narrowly defeated, he became the party's spokesman on social services.

Re-elected in 1976, he became party leader on April 11, 1977, succeeding former prime minister Dr George Borg Olivier, who had led the party since December 1950.

Dr Fenech Adami led the party to victory in the 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998 and 2003 general elections. He also won the referendum on EU membership held on March 8 last year. However, despite obtaining an absolute majority of the popular vote in 1981, the PN ended with only 31 out of 65 seats. Dr Fenech Adami had to wait until the general election of May, 1987, to be sworn in as prime minister for the first time.

In a letter to party general council president Dr Victor Scerri, Dr Fenech Adami said that he had been occupying the post of leader for over 27 years: "These were years of significant work by the party in the national interest. I feel satisfied and proud that, with the help of God, I did my utmost to fulfil my duties in the best way, although perhaps this was not always possible.

"It is also of great satisfaction that over this long period of time, we had asked the people on a number of occasions to express their confidence in our political programme and in six out of seven occasions, we got the confidence and the approval of the absolute majority of the electorate.

"Today, I am celebrating my 70th birthday and after a long process of reflection, I have reached the decision to start the procedure, in according with the statute, for the election of a new leader."

In his letter, Dr Fenech Adami asked the party executive to fix a date for the general council to be convened to elect his successor, who would take over the leadership with immediate effect.

The party executive has appointed an electoral commission, chaired by outgoing Foreign Minister Joe Borg, to handle the election of the new leader. The members are Anthony Abela, Dolores Cristina, Peter Darmanin and Michelle Mallia.

The nominations for the new leader will be received from tomorrow until Saturday. The nominees will have to be proposed by 10 regular party members, three of whom have to be either members of the executive committee or MPs.

The first round of the election will be held on February 28 and the election will only be concluded if one of the contenders gets at least two-thirds of the votes in the first ballot. In subsequent ballots a 50 per cent plus one majority of those present will be sufficient.

During the press conference, Dr Fenech Adami admitted he had been reflecting on his position for a long time.

He referred to the late Seventies and early Eighties as the most difficult period of his leadership, describing the unsolved murder of party activist Raymond Caruana as the saddest moment in his career.

Since 1987, Dr Fenech Adami said, the country has embarked on a process of radical change, which was still relevant to this day and age. The social, political and economical landscape has been changed completely, Dr Fenech Adami said, singling April 16 last year, when he signed Malta's EU accession treaty in Athens, as the most satisfying moment of his distinguished career.

"I look back and I realise that we have managed to significantly raise the standard of living of the people. Our prime concern was to put in action policies built on the principle of solidarity.

"Today, further political, economic and social changes are envisaged due to the international developments and Malta's EU accession. For the future, I see significant opportunities for the country and a better standard of living for our people. I believe that EU membership will prove to be a catalyst for change.

"I see the party moving ahead, continuing to be the party for everyone, advocating social and inclusive policies and making sure that nobody will be marginalised. The party will continue to be built on values.

"I believe there is a need for a new leader to renew the party further in time for the next election. We have managed to modernise and radically change the landscape of this country. Now it's time for me to move on."

Asked about the qualities the new leader should possess, Dr Fenech Adami said: "The new leader should be a person who believes in values and he has to be in a position to continue fostering the culture of values.

"On the other hand, the new leader has to possess qualities of practical competence and the necessary expertise to tackle the political, social and economic situation of the country.

"The new leader should not be an expert in just one area but must be a person who will master the principles of solidarity in practice."

Asked about the acquittal of Meinrad Calleja last week and the pardon to Joseph Fenech, Dr Fenech Adami said it was extraordinary that the Labour Party "was almost identifying itself" with a person who has already been found guilty of drug trafficking on two occasions.

Referring to how he had dealt with this sensitive case, Dr Fenech Adami said he had performed his duties without fear or political considerations.

Asked to comment on his Labour opponents, Dom Mintoff, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Alfred Sant, the prime minister said he believed the late Seventies and early Eighties, characterised by violence, were very difficult indeed.

He also said that over the years he had felt rather disappointed at times with the behaviour of Dr Mifsud Bonnici and later Dr Sant.

"However, I have to admit, the three Labour leaders have contributed to our victories," the man who managed to beat his three political opponents over almost three decades said with a smile.

He did not rule out that he would accept the nomination to become Malta's next head of state after Guido de Marco's term expires in April.

Replying to questions by The Sunday Times, Dr Fenech Adami admitted there was "strong pressure" on him to accept the nomination to be elected President.

However, he said he was not in a position to forecast what will happen. He said that when the time comes, it would be up to the person with the duty to do so to nominate a person for the job.

"I don't know what will happen," Dr Fenech Adami remarked.

Political sources indicate that it was "very possible" that Dr Fenech Adami will be Malta's next President. A source further indicated that in that scenario, the issue would be whether Dr Fenech Adami would be elected President in April or in May.

There is a possibility that Dr Fenech Adami would be nominated President on April 4, immediately after Professor de Marco's term expires.

Or else, an Acting President could be appointed for a month or so and Dr Fenech Adami will take up the Presidency after the country joins the EU on May 1, according to the source.

Asked whether he would be stepping down as prime minister and whether the issue of Malta's accession on May 1 was an issue, Dr Fenech Adami was clear: "I don't have any intention to remain prime minister for a long time."

He explained that it was in his nature to take up matters "one step at a time" and that this is why he was not saying when he would be stepping down as prime minister at this stage.

Asked whether he would like to be there as prime minister on the significant date, May 1, when Malta joins the EU, Dr Fenech Adami said the most important date tied to Malta's journey to Europe was April 16 of last year when he signed the accession treaty in Athens.