Wednesday, 26th March 2008
Election of new PN general secretary
Ex-Net TV head of news possible candidate
The Nationalist Party's administrative general council which will elect the party's executive including a new general secretary, is likely to meet either in June or July.
General secretary Joe Saliba, who yesterday confirmed he will be calling it a day, said the party usually held this council meeting in April but, because of the election and since this had to be preceded by another general council on the election itself, the session would probably be held in June or July.
The post Mr Saliba is vacating is likely to be contested by the owner of Watermelon Media and Communications Ltd and former Net Television head of news Pierre Portelli.
He said, when contacted yesterday, he was thinking about the possibility of running for the post after he was approached by several people within the party, including MPs, over the past two weeks.
"Several people, including MPs, have asked me to take this step. However, I think it is still too early to pronounce myself about it or to make a decision"
Mr Portelli was deeply involved in the PN's referendum and electoral campaigns in 2003 but has not been in the limelight since resigning from head of news in 2004. He was known to be critical of the party and the people who approached him mentioned this as a desirable quality for general secretary. "This is very encouraging. It shows that the people within the PN want the party to keep renewing itself," he said.
Another possible candidate is Beppe Fenech Adami, son of former PN leader and current President of the Republic, Eddie Fenech Adami. In spite of several attempts, he could not be contacted yesterday.
Other names being mentioned included those of the party's information director, Gordon Pisani, and that of the President of the party's general council, Victor Scerri. Both said they were not interested in the post.
Mr Pisani categorically denied he was interested, adding he would not be submitting his nomination.
"Although a lot has been written about my interest, no one has ever spoken to me... It is not true I am interested. At least not at the moment but I remain available to the party... Contesting the post of general secretary is something I have not even thought about," Dr Scerri said.
Before the June/July council meetings are held, it is likely that the party's new headquarters will be inaugurated. Mr Saliba has gone on record saying he would like to still be general secretary when the Prime Minister inaugurates the PN's new headquarters.
"I will work for the new headquarters to be inaugurated before then. No date has yet been set but the work is ready and it is very likely it will be opened by then... I worked on that project and would like to open it but this is just my wish," he said.
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Comments
I beg to differ. You see, apart from the fact that having a viable opposition makes for a stronger and better government, an MLP leader is not there simply to be leader of the party, but is there with a view to one day being prime minister.
And that, Joe Galea, affects the whole of Malta, and not just the labourites. Get my drift?
Should It be Pierre ,Victor , Beppe or Gordon.... the next General Secretary of the P.N. , I have no doubt they would lead the Party to further electoral Victories.
The P.N. is spoilt for choice whenever it comes to choose the right people to fill a post within the Party.
J Martinelli why are you so in love with Gorg Abela? If Gorg Abela would be Labour's next leader, would you turn to a labourite?
I would like to remind you that Labour are choosing the new leader with open doors, no-one blocked anyone from contesting. Your problem is that you want a person who suits you to be MLP leader so that your GonziPn will be rest assured to keep stuck to power. Thanks for your useless suggestions, but keep them to your party.
I am a Labour supporter and you PN die-hards wont stop me from talking. It's you that taught us to interfere into other parties' matters and so here we are doing what you do best.
In my opinion the best candidates for PN general secretary would be Daphne Caruana Galizia. I'm pretty sure that with her charm and her unbiased judgments she would unite PN and MLP once and for all.
The MLP are still struggling trying to find the suitable candidates for their new leader.
While the NP uses an 'open door' policy, the MLP is still bolting their doors to George Abela and others who are or were not in Dr. Sant's pocket.
For me I don't give a damn to whom PN choses as Gen. sec. So should PN supporters be when it comes to Labour choosing their leader.
With all due respect the argument brought by PN hard-liners that they want a viable opposition is laughable....and nobody believes it anyway (unless he was born yesterday)
All they want is for the PN to be in government in eternum fullstop. All other arguments are humbug and lies.
Incidentally I was watching Mr Portelli on his programme on NET. Being a prospective sec. gen. for PN, he really has the MLP at heart poor soul. he even took to challenging Godfrey Grima into admitting that Abela was the best choice for MLP leader so that we could have a viable alternative in 5 yrs time.
He's so generous isn't he - he would actually be willing to lose his first election as PN sec. gen. just so we can have a viable alternative.
What a joke - not as funny as when JPO said he didn't know his land was going to be used to build a discotheque however! that was surely the joke of the year.
Bill Millam
Los Angeles
USA
billumillamerika@yahoo.com
Knowing how eager gonzipn have recently been to suggest who’s best for Labour, why don’t they themselves rope in someone they respect and love so much?
Certainly, no one would mind it if “charity begins at home”. It fits so well within the gonzipn “friends of friends” trend. After all, “ahna lkoll ahwa Maltin”!
I'm sure they would make excellent candidates.