PN will not broaden voter base

The Nationalist Party is not seeking to broaden its voter base for the election of a general secretary, party insiders said yesterday.

It is the executive committee that elects the PN's general secretary. The person occupying the post also has to be a member of that committee which, besides several party officials, also includes 13 members elected every two years.

Following a drive by George Abela, a candidate in the Labour Party leadership election, to widen the voter base for the election of the leader, the party's television station has been featuring reports about a movement within the PN to widen its own voter base for the election of the general secretary.

Prospective candidate Beppe Fenech Adami, a newly-elected MP, who is considering the possibility of contesting for the post, accused Labour of trying to shift their problems onto the PN. He denied any attempt by the party to broaden its voter base.

"At no point was there a discussion within the party on the possibility of changing the statute to change the way the party's officials are elected. This is not an issue and I have not come across the matter," he said pointing out that he was a member of both the party's executive committee and administrative council.

He said he had not yet taken a definite decision to contest because the parliamentary group had not yet been composed and the election to elect the members of the general council, which then appointed the executive, still had to take place.

Dr Fenech Adami said he also wanted to see who else would run.

Another prospective candidate, Pierre Portelli, said when contacted that the MLP was trying to create a story about the PN.

"They asked my opinion and I said that it makes no difference to me. They made it look as if this is what I want when, to me, it makes no difference one way or the other...

"Rather than seeing what they need to change within their party, Labour tries to create a story about the PN. This is stupid," he said.

Although interested in the post of general secretary, he still has not made a final decision about whether or not to contest. He had to see how certain things developed, he said. Although not a member at present, he will be standing for election to the executive committee.

Another possible candidate for the post is former Pietà mayor Malcolm Mifsud but he could not be contacted yesterday as he is abroad.