The renewal continues...

Is it not amazing? In the space of one year, one month, the Nationalist Party has led an incredible process of renewal within its own ranks as well as within the nation.

Working together as One Team just over a year ago we went to the people and asked for a definitive yes in favour of Malta joining the European Union. Five weeks later we went back to the people to make sure that their will was implemented. A new Cabinet was sworn in and our Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs were in Athens to sign the EU Accession Treaty.

Eleven months later, the Prime Minister of his own will announced that he would be resigning. Lawrence Gonzi is the new party leader and will next week become prime minister. By then the PN councillors will have chosen the deputy leader. Before this month is out, a new Cabinet will discuss who will be Malta's next President.

The PN wins five out of the last six general elections as well as the EU referendum. Eddie Fenech Adami chooses to pass on leadership to the younger generation within the same party.

The Labour Party loses five out of the last six general elections as well as the EU referendum. Alfred Sant chooses to stay on.

Anyone following the PN internal electoral process must admire the open and democratic manner in which it is carried out.

On my own part I am honoured to be participating in the process leading to the choice of the deputy leader. Meeting party activists and discussing with them their own wishes and concerns has been an invigorating and enriching experience.

I have shared with them what I consider to be the main ingredients of a renewal process that will continue:

¤ The PN will strengthen itself further as a popular party that appeals to and represents all social strata;

¤ As a result of the renewal process the party is going through, it will be the party that in four years' time can go to the electorate with a young and energetic team that is close to the people;

¤ Working together as one team, we would have secured further job creation and a stronger economy, exploiting the new opportunities that our country can reap through membership of the European Union;

¤ All capital projects that are already gaining momentum will be yielding the best possible results and in the meantime we will enter into new projects that include the rehabilitation of the entrance of our capital city, and its environs;

¤ We will make the best possible use of information technology as well as of the media in order to make sure that our message is reaching people in an effective manner; and

¤ Above all, we ensure that our own internal communications network will entail that we sustain the close contact that has over the past weeks been built up with party councillors and activists in order that these people will know that their opinions and aspirations are always relevant.

Keeping close to the grass roots, avoiding any form of aloofness and keeping a strict open door policy has always helped me in my own political career since it meant that I could factor into all my decision making the wisdom and insights of the people who matter most - the people who will be affected. That is how we can together ensure that we make decisions close to the people while proceeding with the renewal process.