Opposition 'has not reacted' to proposed Constitutional changes

The Nationalist Party general council meeting kicked off in Gozo yesterday with councillors urging the party to renew itself. Practically all those who spoke expressed full confidence in Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's leadership.

Most speakers used the "long and winding road" metaphor to explain that the PN should not lose hope of reaching its objectives despite present difficulties, inspired by a temporary detour they had to take through Zebbug, Ghasri, Ta' Ghammar and Ta' Pinu to reach the Kempinski San Lawrenz Hotel - where the council is being held - given that the main road from Victoria is being dug up.

Councillors urged the PN to listen to what the people had to say, as some emphasised that the party needs to regenerate itself by building on its historic achievements.

Quite a few called for better use of the party media to give a voice to the people, adding that the party should see why people were disgruntled.

Most of all, they said, the PN should help people understand that the sacrifices they were making were not in vain, since the government's decisions would yield fruit in the end.

A councillor urged the party to study in detail why so many PN supporters had not turned out to vote in the recent local council elections. "Some people have valid reasons to be disgruntled and they should not be taken lightly," a councillor said.

Deputy Prime Minister and deputy party leader Tonio Borg said the PN should not torment itself but should carry out an examination of conscience.

He said the PN could not swim back to the river bank because it encountered difficulties while swimming to the other side, reminding councillors that the party had gone through worse times and had always managed to move on thanks to healthy discussion.

Dr Borg reiterated that the government was prepared for the next two years of administration and was determined to go ahead with the reforms it had started.

He added that the Nationalist Party should be the government's compass, as it has always been, and that the PN should win the next election because of its track record during this legislature.

Dr Borg criticised the Labour Opposition, saying it hardly ever reacted to what the government proposed, explaining that the government had suggested two constitutional amendments but the Opposition had not reacted after almost two years.

"We have proposed to include the office of the Ombudsman in the Constitution, and also raising magistrates' retirement age from 60 to 65. Almost two years have passed and we have not received any feedback from the Opposition," Dr Borg said.

The Nationalist Party was a democratic party inspired by Christian values, Dr Borg continued. It was however, a lay party and not a "fundamentalist" one, as its enemies were trying to portray it.

"It is completely untrue that I have some fundamentalist streak," Dr Borg said, concluding that the party will remain united behind Dr Gonzi.

In an opening speech, PN general secretary Joe Saliba defined the general council as the point of departure towards the next general election.

The party's treasurer, Peter Darmanin, said the Nationalist government was facing the most difficult legislature in recent political history.

Promising unconditional loyalty to Dr Gonzi, he said the party knew when it elected him two years ago that the period ahead would not be easy, adding that he expected party officials, ministers, MPs, councillors and all activists to be loyal to Dr Gonzi. "Those who will not promise their unconditional loyalty should walk out of this room right now," Mr Darmanin declared.

Using Biblical metaphors, Mr Darmanin said the PN was like the Jewish people walking through the Sinai desert in the years following the flight from Egypt. "The Jews had grown impatient at Moses and were saying how better off they were as slaves. In the end, they reached the Promised Land, as we shall," he said.

The General Council will be concluded this morning with an address by the Prime Minister and party leader, Dr Gonzi.