We will decide the future together, Lawrence Gonzi, the Nationalist Party's new leader and the country's future prime minister, said yesterday in an address broadcast on Net TV.

Fresh from an overwhelming vote of confidence in his ability to lead party and country, Dr Gonzi had one main message - that decisions would be taken, and implemented, "close to the people".

It is not a new message, as the principle of subsidiarity has long been embraced by the PN. But Dr Gonzi appears to want to give it new vigour.

"I want the people's wishes, needs and satisfactions to become ours... I want a Nationalist Party that listens more, pays more attention and responds with relevant policies that meet the needs of every individual...

"I will work towards better communication, more exchange of ideas, more initiatives in political discussion. This must be done with the active participation of people from all sectors of society."

He said the party needed to be more open and to give a stronger voice to women, young people and Gozitans.

"I don't just believe in representation but in broad and active participation so that the formulation of policies can have the input of different perspectives."

He said the new era of European Union membership required a renewal in thought, style and action. "We need to revise our policies," he said, while retaining the principles the party believed in.

He also wanted the government to listen and consult more and this applied both to politicians and public servants across the board, whose clients were not the government but the people.

Dr Gonzi appealed for excellence and best effort in all areas, so as to bring about an improvement in the quality of life and in personal and community development.

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