A hard choice but a clear one

Nationalist Party councillors will be faced with a difficult choice in four days' time. They are being asked to choose between three candidates for the leadership post. Each of these individuals has given a lot to both party and country. Each one of these men has an important role to play in the coming years, whatever the result of Saturday's election.

Louis Galea was general secretary of our party during the most turbulent period in recent history. He found a party that was reeling after two successive electoral defeats, a party stuck in the past and finding it impossible to deal with the unique Mintoffian blend of charisma and ruthlessness, and converted it into an efficient political machine.

He has been entrusted with several important portfolios since 1986 and has always shown a measure of success in achieving the goals he set for himself. I admire his intelligent and reasoned approach, which can best be appreciated during our parliamentary group meetings. His interventions are often indispensable in helping us navigate towards consensus even on the thorniest of issues.

John Dalli is a man of action. He has the guts to take the hard decisions that are sometimes necessary in politics. He is extremely well organised as evidenced by his leadership campaign. This has easily been the most professionally orchestrated of the three. He is at his best during parliamentary debates and can demolish attacks from the opposition by his tough, witty remarks.

Lawrence Gonzi has not been directly involved in the party for as long as the other two contestants. He was first elected in 1996, the same year in which I started my foray into parliamentary life. He gained the respect of both sides of the House during his years as Speaker and is known to be a very approachable and unassuming individual. I can attest to this fact, having had the occasion of troubling him for his advice and guidance several times during the past years.

It is nothing short of amazing that such a man could elicit the level of virulence levelled at him by the opposition. I am writing this article with last Sunday's KullHadd in front of me. Headlines such as Let's Keep Away From Gonzi, John Dalli Is The Favorite, PN In Stormy Waters Due To Lawrence Gonzi's Failures and John Dalli Has The Greatest Support dominated this edition of the socialist mouthpiece. It is obvious that the MLP do not want Dr Gonzi to be elected.

Now the MLP is hardly renowned for putting the interests of the nation or, even more so, of the Nationalist Party before its own. Last Sunday's attacks are only part of a campaign aimed at portraying Dr Gonzi as having an indecisive character, making him unfit for the post of prime minister. It is unfortunate that supporters of the two other leadership contestants have chosen to pick on this piece of socialist spin in their efforts to promote their favourites. It would be naïve to expect otherwise. Politics is a tough game meant only for tough players.

It would be ironic were the candidate perceived by the Labourites themselves as being the one with the greatest chance of posing a threat to the Labour Party's electoral chances to fall victim of Labour-initiated negative propaganda!

Dr Gonzi is the obvious choice for those PN councillors who wish to see our party succeed in beating the MLP once again in the coming electoral battles. It is clear that he is the ideal man to steer Malta away from the confrontational politics which have resulted in a situation where agreement cannot be achieved even on the most basic of issues. It is clear that he is the best suited to lead the party and the country in the coming years of change which will require "collaborative governance" if we are to get the most out of our European adventure.

It is clear that he is in the best position to ensure that the values instilled in the party by Eddie Fenech Adami are put to good use to help us face up to the challenges of tomorrow.

Dr Pullicino Orlando is a Nationalist member of parliament.

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando