UPDATED: Paul Borg Olivier is new PN general secretary

Pj Mifsud is thwarting history to his needs.

He's trying to share Mons.Gonzi's shameful acts with Dom Mintoff. Yes, Gonzi was a Labourite. When he recognised that with Mintoff in office, he would not continue to fulfill his intentions he turned into a guy "b'harsa lejn lemin"!!!

Borg Olivier wasn't Mintoff's type. He preferred to hide under the church's umbrella who scared people of hell and Satan. Never did any PN official came out with a reasonable statement about the whole wrong happening in the country. Never did Borg Olivier interfered from stopping the rejection of people from the society! He preferred the easy route.......

PJ Mifsud is trying to say that he's waiting Mintoff to apologise for introducing civil rights and gaining true Independence to our country. If he's trying to say that the electorate does not trust labour, he's obviously daydreaming. Labour represents half the population, together with all those Nationalists who still don't trust the Church and what used to be their party, who are nearing back to the left.

@ F. Spiteri
Part 2.

Most of the blame for the 1960s MLP-Church politico-religious dispute can be attributed to Mintoff whose tactless handling contributed to its gathering momentum, culminating in an open conflict of disasterous proportions.

The deragatory term " miżbla " doesn't signify a rubbish heap as you insinuated. In fact, it was a tract of unconsecrated ground sited on the cemetery precincts where non-Catholic corpses were laid to rest.

When the Interdict was lifted following reconciliation, the Church publicly apologised to Labourites for having caused so much traumatic anguish in those troubled times, even though it wasn't solely to blame. On the contrary, the MLP hasn't followed suit to date.

You blamed the imposition of the Interdict for Labour having lost the 1962 and 1966 elections. Yet no Interdict was in effect when Labour lost the 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2003 and 2008 general elections. Surely other reasons exist why the electorate doesn't trust Labour in government.

It is a foolish and senseless proposal to expect the Gonzi brothers to apologize on behalf of their ancestor for having imposed these disciplinary measures. PN governments weren't party to their imposition but alternatively attempted to find a mediatory solution.

@ F. Spiteri
Part 1.

I recommend you read some History books dealing with the 1960s Church-MLP politico-religious conflict to learn actual facts before writing a load of fictitious crap. Experiencing the events or having heard accounts from misinformed nitwits does not qualify you as an expert to pronounce yourself on historical matters.

No Nationalist Government ever vied for power for its own sake just as the MLP did in 1981 when it clung to power against the wishes of the majority . The issue was basically the outcome of Mintoff's confrontation with the Church that had its valid reasons to react to Labour provocations and insolence by interdicting the main culprits. Labourites who fell out with Mintoff left the Party and formed a new Workers' Party. Gonzi refused Mintoff's proposals to introduce certain Civil Laws (i.e Civil Marriage) that the Church considered anathema to its teachings.

Archbishop Gonzi is Dr Gonzi's great great-uncle and NOT our government's uncle (sic). He was a labourite at heart when the MLP was led by Paul Boffa, a politician of great integrity. Gonzi had been elected in the interests of the MLP to sit on the Council of Government.

So the conservatives elected a new secretary general for their party , and still they demean MLP at the way they elect their office bearers. Oh well no matter what us humans say, they are never going to change. After all one prerquisite is to be able to tell a lie and keep a straight face. Its easy for party machine to manipulate a small number of delegates

@Andrew Borg-Cardona

Unlike yourself I never say that anyone is completely wrong. Norman Lowell is right and wrong on many things. Even you are so.

You said once that Norman Lowell was spreading racial hatred when he was always talking about a certain group of people. Look who's talking!

@ Mr Andrew Borg-Cardona

Well .... if you are the "famous" I-M-Beck ... then calling people on the other side of your fence as "lil'elves" is something which in Maltese merits the famous comment "L-ispizjarA milli jkollha ittik" ... or a more polite Italian saying (which will probably sound better associated with your favorite`s party origins) "Ma da che pulpito !!".

For someone who has for years hidden his let`s call them "non-friendly" articles hidden under a nickname is simply astonishing !! Of course, enjoying such a high status (at least in the list of those who matter and those who know who to call when they need to spit hatred and or denigrate someone) gives you enough pride to call the other "lil`" ... of course, not everyone has the benifit of having friends in high (and in the right) places .... and not everyone has the benefit of being paid to act at his master`s request !

I don't know what the huff is all about. PN is a united Party, which why it's acceptable for a small amount to decide together who should be the next General Secretary. I mean it is a top job yes but it's a decision which effects the party, not the people. Besides the point, you say MLP had 1000 delegates to vote on who should be the new leader of the party, when we all knew MLP was made up of different factions and the main aim was to unite labour which was disorganised, split up with different factions, including that inner-circle clikka. Too many differences of opinions were involved.

PN is more united and they didn't screw eachother over to discredit eachother so they would look like the better choice. That is why I think it's fine, for PN to have a more limited vote, since they all have the same vision and ideas of where the party's heading. The % of votes would have probably remained the same if they increased the number of people who had a say.

Remember the PN party won the last election.....why? Bad choices? Or good choices?

@ Domenic Zammit-----If you think that this government used abusive, illegal and undemocratic tactics speak up and give your info. to the relevant authorities....until then we will take your statements with a pinch of salt...............pretty much like your comments are taken with a pinch of salt by "your man" Joseph who probably ,like the ones before him, promised you a lovely future of millk and honey and left you stranded....................dream on Dumink you have five more years waiting for your promised Land of jobs, promotions and power................your "terenata" story, by the way, shows that you live a thousand years back.........................you dream of Communism and power to the PM and may I assure you that people like you are the exact recipe for more PN years in power...............so keep on writing and dreaming of nice, big, promotions from nice, friendly, "your man", Joseph.........until then we'll move on under a PN govt. whether you like it or not!!!!!

Sir, May I correct a couple of errors appearing in my comment re Dr Borg Olivier's success in the election for the post of PN general secretary. I must add that the print here is so small that at my age I can hardly be sure of what I am typing. I therefore hope I am not adding further typing errors.May I add that Mrs Caruana Galizia's tirade in another section of the press confirms the chagrin I detected in her attitude over Dr PBO's success - another valid reason for my reiterating, apart from spell-checking my original message:
"Even though I agree with Justin Tabone's justified comment on the issue of democracy within the PN, I would still like to congratulate Dr Paul Borg Olivier on his election. One looks forward to seeing more civilized relations between the two major parties. One feels confident we will henceforth witness less wild and uncontrolled cross-party attacks that have characterized the past years particularly due to some so-called journalists (or, to be blunt, a she-opinion-maker posing as a journalist) beholden to the PN."

@ J Martinelli
you should learn some history first. In the 50's Mlp where fighting independence or integration when your party was just (gallarija). The violence you are mentioning was not against your party but it was during protests against the british occupation.

And by the way , for all of you pn supporters writing in this blog , I have some questions for you. Who was behind the violence in the 70's & 80's? Why no labour supporters where ever convicted in court over such violence when PN took office in 87? Who used to order the bombs outside police stations, and high ranking people? Who used to go abroad and tell prospective foreign investors not to invest in Malta? Who used to tell business man localy not to employ people? If you want I have more questions which need answers but let's forget the past and work for a better future in this beloved country with the hope that one day it will be drawn out of the disaster that's eating us all.

What about 'il- magna tal- partit' in this case? no, not even mentioned this time round... ma tarax! and what should we say for all the stick Labour got for not opening up the election to all paying members of the party? oh HA TAQA ID- DINJA... only 845 votes can b cast... never mind PN organising an election for just 60 voters... as usual... TWO PARTIES, TWO MEASURES!!

@ j martinelli.
so taking away subsidy for first time buyers is not a broken electoral promise?
do you think we're all idiots? just admit you're a PN apologist and it will soon become harder for you to defend wot the PN does or doesn't do !!

Its amazing how these conservatives change their tune. Not so long ago they were "advising " the MLP that the leadership should be chosen by the whole membership. Is it not a pity that they did not take their own advise in the election of their secretary general. And they try to portrait themselves as honest and upright people. Do any of them really beleive all the rubbish they write about. As to winning elections we do not need to go too far to see how they operate. After all they have an ex leader who is a proven liar, the case of JPO ETC ETC.The problem on this island is we have a section of the population who are brainwashed to believe anythig the conservatives say. To those who are saying that the conservatives were against the application of the interdet on MLP I say go and tell to the marines because you are unbeleivable

David Gatt - if you think that people like Norman Lowell can be right about anything, then your intellectual capacities render you beneath contempt. My only problem in the future is going to be remembering to ignore you.

The church conflict with the MLP was something that Mintoff sought. I had the privilege to have heard Jackie Frendo Azzopardi, former Minister in GBO cabinet, telling EFA that on more then one occasion he had accompnied GBO to the Curia begging Archbishop Gonzi not to issue the interdet.

Mr. Albert Gauci Cunningham.......History repeat itself ......... We have a recent dictator Goverment in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe ''terenata'' gave him power for this last 28 years.His political system worked too..... just lik PN...... so much about democracy

This story is so funny. I remember people's comments a few weeks back, arguing that labour should extend its 900 voting delegates' right to every 'tesserat'. And what happens now?/ Paul Borg Olivier gets elected with 41 votes out of less than a 100 votes!! OH GOD!!! Where are all these commentators now/ How come they are not whining now?

@ABC

We really expect you to say something that makes sense on this. Or else we might think Norman Lowell was right on the judgment he made on you at Safi some years ago. No?

“Myth, memory, history - these are three alternative ways to capture and account for an elusive past, each with its own persuasive claim.” (Warren I. Susman)

No one would ever deny that the MLP-Church conflict of the 60s left a lot of victims. But to attribute this conflict to the PN is historical fabrication at its best. Yet, I am not so surprised that there are those who deny the State Organised Crime of the 70s and 80s considering that there are those who even try to deny the Holocaust.

Reading through this blog reminds me of Oscar Wilde’s comment about history: “Any fool can make history, but it takes a genius to write it.”

And by the way, congratulations Paul for your appointment as Secretary General of the DNA Defective Party.

@ F Spiteri

What a load of sheep dip!
You think that Archbishop Gonzi would ever take advice from the Nationalist Party being very much pro-Labour himself? It is you who knows little of what happened in the 50s and 60s. Even before the Interdett the MLP supporters were violent, burned police stations threw trucks over into the docks etc..
Why don't you ask Mintoff what the real problem was between him and the Archbishop? Mintoff is still around and at least you can get his half of the story. I can tell you that the story goes that the conflict between the two started during Mintoff's stint at the Seminary as a student ! Long before the Integration issue. So know your facts. The NP had nothing to gain and actually was not at all happy with the way things evolved. You may have other impressions and you are entitled to them but in this regard you are totally wrong.

@ Eric Saliba

How can you say that the NP broke electoral promises? The mandate is barely three months old and - count - there are four years and nine months to go yet, so hold your horses..

@ j martinelli. a democratic free vote was taken on the motion and it was defeated. end of story. again i invite you to look up what democracy really means.
yes you & all the other PN apologists have a lot to apologize for, starting from the already- broken electoral promises!!

Both our two major parties have done some pretty bad things to each other. But that is the past now - supporters of both parties should work together for the good of our country.

Christina Borg:
If you are not informed enough about a subject, it is better not to comment!! Did you experience yourself the 60s? If not, let me tell you that while you described the events of the 70s and 80s as "organised crime by a political party in power", events in the 60s were organised crimes by a political party THAT WANTED POWER!!!! It was not an MLP-Church conflict. For those who do not recall those horrible years, PN's meetings were purpously realted to the Catholic Church while on the other hand, Archbishop Michael Gonzi, our government's uncle, interdicted all those who supported MLP. PN and the church at that time abused of their power to intimidate and insult It was the era when corpes used to be buried in a mizbla! All this threatening led to PN winning 2 elections during the interdect. In fact, when the interdect was lifted, MLP won the election by majority again. The imposition of the interdett and the mortal sin left a traumatic effect on the life of all of those who experienced it. Maybe the 2 nephews in power could take Dr Muscat's advice and apologise!!

@ Eric Saliba

Turning down a motion presented on behalf of 200+ card carrying members to widen the election process made them the privileged 900. Don't make comparisons with the 60 General Council members of the NP. Such a petition was never presented to them, so your arguments are both hypothetical and hypocritical. BTU we have nothing to apologize for, you do!

@ Peter Inguanez

Don't have breakfast on August 4 and 5.

@ Albert Fenech

Are you so naive that you expected the NP to intervene in a dispute between the MLP and the Church? The NP did the right thing to stay out of a situation which was a lose-lose proposition. Obviously neither the MLP nor the Church saw beyond their noses resulting in a divided country still suffering the consequences to this day.

@ Joe MArtinelli...since you mentioned Enrico Mizzi, well you seem to be proud that one of the former PN leaders was a fascist-sympathiser....and regardign the petition, it was 200 DELEGATES not members + that shows that in Labour people are not afraid to speak out their minds, something which doesn't seem to happen in the PN

@ David Battastino...in the 1960s the health minister (who also happened to be a Borg OLivier) had banned Labour newspapers from entering public hospitals. Once my father took l-Orizzont with him at work. 4 days later he got a transfer.

@ Christina Borg...so the beatings which police gave to labourites, the prohibition of Labour newspapers from public hospitals, the prohibition of publid meetings in Valletta, the censorship of Labour speakers on public media, the rampant discrimination esp. in employment etc etc which took place in the 1960s are OK for you? And by the way, Adolorata is state-owned...so PN is responsible for allowing Sir Gonzi to bury labourites in the Mizbla. Which roots are you talking about....the fascist ones? PN lost its roots in the '70s when Eddie was elected as Kap and PN stopped being ultra-conservative.

I think it is up to each party to decide the method of electing its executives but for goodness sake, will all the hypos who called the MLP undemocratic for not openning elections to all the MLP members but then give a thumbs up for a voting system involving the 60 elite have some decency....

Oh and by the way what about all those elite no votes which some contestants managed to collect.

@ j martinelli. u call 900 labour delegates 'privileged'. how more so then are the 59 who were allowed to vote yesterday??
re the rest of your comment.....from a PN apologist i don't expect any better !
maybe you ought to read a bit about what democracy and how it really works !

Why mix up the MLP-Church conflict of the 60s with the state organised crime of the 70s and 80s? What happened in the 60s was the solve result of a conflict between a political party and the Catholic Church. What we went through in the 70s and 80s was organised crime by a political party in power. So much so that political commentators often credit Hon Alfred Sant for having ‘cleaned the MLP from violent elements’.

But let us not get deviated from the issue being discussed. The PN have a new Secretary General who has major challenges ahead. He needs to continue to modernise the party, open it up further to all its critics (including those on this blog), remain a mover and shaker for the implementation of the PN 2008-2013 Electoral Programme, review the party’s policies to provide an alternative to Dr. Joseph Muscat’s declared liberalism, and ensure that the PN remains a popular party connected to its roots, both in terms of its values and its people.

@J Abela Quote "All PN supporters are happy with the outcome of the result. " Time will tell my friend., but don't think so. I think the Part machine was working for the other candidate but failed miserably.And about what you said about MLP Supporters should mind there own business, have you landed from Mars this morning or what. PN supporters have been minding MLP business for long years now. And by the way I don't care about your business you could have elected George W Bush or any other devil we know. WHO CARES!!

@ Albert Fenech
I happened to be insulted daily, by housewives gossiping in the cross roads, early in the morning, just because I bought the in-Nazzjon Taghna together with a loaf of bread and the daily milk. At the time in 1979, i was just an 11yr old doing his daily routine of errands as house duties! I suggest to Mr Fenech and all those you think on the same lines - suggest to the MLP to give up its TV station and Radio station. Maybe even the Kullhadd and the Websites and carry on voice your opinion on the l-Orizzont only, if it is that what he means by freedom of expression!

@Jennifer Cosaitis. I am not contesting the point that an 'enlighted few' can do a better job than 900 delegates or 300,000 voters. I was just pointing that if we agree that restricting decision to a circle of 50 people is the best way forward, then let it be, but then please let's be a bit more consistent in what we say.

@ effie Carbonaro
Oddly enough I asked the same question some four weeks ago but to no avail. What one consider a public place in Malta is totally different from one`s imagination. Public Beaches are taken over by hotels and other outlets, the only beach still totally public is Pretty Bay B`bugia.
Next month Victoria Square, better known as Premier will be taken over by a private entity for a Gala Dinner. I`m afraid these locations have nothing to do with the Valletta Local Council, they fall under government property. This is the way things are done in Malta, if you don`t like it you have to put it in your pipe and smoke it.

@ David Battistini

....and I must add that whilst MLP members were being interdicted and excommunicated, not only did the NP do nothing about it (solidarity, freedom of speech etc), they actually PROFITTED by the situation and were elected to Government in 1962 and 1966. So much for dialogue!

It is not fair on the guy to carry such a heavy burden knowing that, as I understand it, leadership had handpicked MEP Simon. There is not only a significant gap between the two but PBO will have to now walk under the shade of a spare also-ran (kind-of-thing...ok more of a limp than a run). In any case buon lavoro

@ David Battistino

All I can say is that you must have led a very sheltered life if you actually believe that life in Malta began from 1987 onwards with what you class as "dialogue". So BEFORE 1987 nobody in Malta came forward to speak their mind? Can you tell us when "In-Nazzjon Taghna" was first published? There again, you might have a mind throw-back to the 50's and 60's when MLP members were excomminucated and interdicted for "speaking their minds"

Honestly...the nonsense that is written in these columns!!!!!

Can i ask paul borg oliver a question before he leaves his post.last night i took same friends of mine to visit the upper barrakka gardens but they were closed.no it was not closing time i was told that it was closed for a private function.how came paul?i thought the barrakka was a publc place. was put in its present splendour by public funds.is it right to rent it to a third PARTY.?I and a lot like me dont think it is right.

@ Charles Buttigieg,

Because there was a petition signed by 200+ card carrying members ASKING for a change. We all know how well received it was by the 900 'privileged' delegates. Did I not read in one of your posting that "although Joseph was not your choice, you will be behind him"? So, the 900 seem to have snubbed your choice? Bingo!

@ K Abela

You ought to be impressed, and we don't mind if history repeats itself when it is a case of success moving forward into the future. For more mature folks like me, you should have at least started with Nerik Mizzi, George Borg Olivier, Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi and now, since you mention him - another Borg Olivier. One complete successful circle. Compare !!!
Mintoff - KMB - Sant - Jason ? I nearly forgot God's gift 'call me Joseph'.
You are one of the herd who throws allegations to the wind like the BACK STABBING bit. Who are you kidding? Which machine within the NP produces a good leader and immediately handcuff him with two deputy leaders like Farrugia and Abela?
Sit back, relax and wait for the next stomach indigestion come August.

I consider Paul Borg Olivier as a friend, so I congratulate him on his achievement, I hope he will be successful in his new role (not too successful though) for he knows also of my socialistic views, what made him contest for the position I still no not know, next time we meet I will ask.
Why am I sayimg this? Because he knows it, so do I, that although he is a very successful man in all his undertakings, he was not the favourite man for the job, he might prove his party wrong on this matter. Anyway, good luck Paul. A word of advice, watch your back.

The same independent (sic.) commentators who a month ago were telling us that Labour should elect its leadership through an election in which all paid-up members could vote now are saying that being elected by just the executive is better. Oqbra mbajjda....

Anyone remembers boccja on bondi+ ? :)

Another interesting thing is that while Labour's contest was criticized for not being enough open to the independent media / bigilla programmes (such as Xarabank), GonziPN did not allow the contestants to pass any comments to non-PN media. But no one seemed to be irked by this censorship. PN doesn't have a magna....

As for comments regarding who is copying who in his statements let us not forget that way back in 1987 Eddie Fenech Adami insisted on the word ‘Dialogue’ and managed to make the inhabitants of this island come forward and speak there mind. If you want any proof of how good this resulted just stop and think a bit: Would you have been able to express yourself like this (on the internet) against the government or not, without any fear, before 1987? As regards to new seasons I recall that Eddie came out with the slogan of ‘A new Spring’ and now we have ‘A New Season’. My question is: which new season are we referring to ‘cause if it is Winter I don’t like it – it is so cold!

I say well done to the whole PN structure which managed to mix new with old faces, young and old (excuse me Peter). It is irrelevant how and by how many people officials are elected as long as the statute rules are observed. Many are mixing the issue within the MLP way of electing its leader. It may be that, conveniently, they don’t want to remember that it was within the MLP that the request for change was being requested. Maybe a revision of the MLP statute should be made to reflect more the needs of its members. Some few years ago we did have a revision of the PN statute. Nobody doubted the method of electing the officials and we moved forward without any hiccups.

@ABC (again), Joe Martinelli and AGC
Puke, puke. Oooops.... there goes my breakfast.!

Well done Dr. Borg Olivier and Mr Bonnici for the race.

While sending my heartfelt goodluck to Paul Borg Olivier, i hope that Mr Saliba will be kept on board as a strategist because he is an outstanding one ( as proved in the last election where PN won against all odds)

The trick of PN are not new beginnings but solid continuation with updates as should be!

@ andrew borg cardona. in another blog u already described yourself as a lackey. further proof was not needed. the sad thing is that if something is done by labour it is always wrong in your view while if done by the pn it is excellent. hypocrisy at its best.
give us a break man. at least you're not spiteful of anything that labour does like dcg !!

@Joe Martinelli. Quote”. Maybe the MLP should take a hard look at their system of electing their officials and remember that the bigger number of participants in any competitive situation always renders the greater number of diverging opinions leading to less unanimity”. Unquote. I don’t believe that the same person who supported the idea of Labour electing its leader through its grass roots can be so audacious to make such a categorical statement. According to this man a dictator is always unanimous. Unbelievable.

@ Christine Borg
Then why all the fuss that the MLP should have choosen it's leader through an election from all members, or is it a case that everything the MLP does is wrong and everything the PNdoes is right!!

First of all, Well done and well deserved win to Paul Borg Olivier. All PN supporters are happy with the outcome of the result.

TO ALL MLP SUPPORTERS: mind your own party's business.

Dear Mr.Martinelli. Did i actually read NO BACKSTABBING, in your comment. Sorry but i think you are living in another world!

Wow. I am impressed at how things work within this party, but i am wondering if this is history repeating itself or something else. Gonzi, FenechAdami, and now BorgOlivier.

Well done Dr. Borg Olivier, you have what it takes to become a great PN general secretary like the ones before you. Now, that we have our house in order, we can sit down, relax and prepare to watch part two of the show on the other side of the fence. I sincerely wish them good luck.

There is no limit to hypocracy, with in the PN. I hope the selected few haven't vote Taht Lart?

how do the paid members feel ? Just a handfull of the Bright Chosen ones Voted. Democracy init's making VIVA GONZIPN

Blue Boy

As usual, MLP fanatics confuse comment with criticism. The comments made (at least by me) on their method of electing officials was in the context of the way there was a reaction to a proposal to change the system by the internal vested interests. As far as I am concerned, the MLP - or the Casino Maltese or the Bubaqra Swallows or the Republican Party of America, for that matter - can elect their officials in any way they like and it is only if I am a member of these august organisations that I can try to change thins internally if I don't like them.

Democratic credentials, incidentally, are demonstrated by the capacity to absorb comment and criticism and react accordingly.

Do you get my point?

Prictoe - sorry to have caused you some passing discomfort, but you know what they say, better out than in, mate.

Congratulations Paul.

Each party has its own system. The PN work in one way, the MLP work in another. So what, what's the fuss?

What performed in the past is not a guarantee for what will perform in the future. No one knows what will happen in a couple of months time. The future is unknown.

To Mr Mario Borg et al, it would seem that the “enlightened few” do a much better job at choosing competent people to fill vacant posts within the Nationalist Party, than the 900 or so delegates which choose the walking disasters which have administered the Malta Labour Party in the past couple of years or so. During the time Mr Saliba and others chosen by the general council have held their posts, and I quote "the PN won all the general elections held in Malta and the EU membership referendum."

Need I say more?

The PN system has given results in 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2003 referendum, 2003 and 2008................with two 4,000+ majorites, two 13,000+ majorities, one 15,000+ majority and one 1,000+ majority..................any other comments other than these hard, political and numerical facts ,which many here find so hard to accept, is superflous!!


Dr.Borg Olivier-----------The PN needs to listen to the people's complaints more, it needs to be present on a local level, it shouldn't be afraid to face criticism and change.................the PN needs to make sure that the government delivers, it needs to push for better quality projects, better social policies which reflect today's social realities, social justice, better healthcare, a 'restructured" MEPA etc.............just like the PN moved from the right to the centre/left it needs to now become the Green Party with the best green policies......it needs to be conservative enough to work hard to protect our families and liberal enough to accept today's realities....... it should be the Party which represents self-employed and business people, it should be the Party with an aim, with a goal, with a vision of reaching new heights, with faith in our Nation, with courage to face the challenges and with ambition to believe in ourselves!!

How dare MLP apologists criticize 'democracy' (or lack of) within the NP ?
They say that electing an important position of General Secretary by a 60 member of the General Council is less democratic than the 900 or so MLP delegates who 'elected' a predetermined anointed successor.
The difference between the two scenarios is simple. No Nationalist card carrying member raised the issue - the system has worked, producing successive victories for decades whereas in the case of the MLP 900 brains produced three electoral defeats and a referendum fiasco. There lies the difference.
The MLP turned down a petition by 200 card carrying members to open up the process to include them as well. The MLP delegates turned down the request for the simple democratic reason not to give George Abela an ice-cube's chance in hell! That's democracy for you!
900 or 60 makes no difference if the procedures are fair. If one had a chance to watch the news, they would have had an opportunity to see how orderly and cordial the whole exercise was conducted. It took two hours to elect not only the General Secretary but also various positions on the Executive Committee. Dare compare!

thank you for all the people who voted for paul.perhaps now our capital city will find a new mayor who can give it a much more deserved new clean image.

Nobody noticed that the NP is copying what the new leadership of the MLP is saying? First we had Joseph saying that the door of the CNL is open to everyone, then we had the prime minister saying exactly the same thing a week later, Joseph said also that the new MLP is going to discuss with everyone, now today we had the new general secretary of the NP saying the same.

Some people are incredible in the way they excuse any fault within their party.

We're not fools dear Christina Borg, just refrain from giving us examples of how a Company works.

Your CEO is Gonzi, so take good care of him, cause 5 yrs from now, he will be licking up the wounds (today's so-called ''election'' is an example) left by Joe Saliba.

And they say that the MLP-machine control the party.

Buhahahahaha, the PN (and their pathetic followers) is soooooooooo incredible.............

"No back stabbing" in the NP wrote Mr. Joe Martinelli. Has he forgotten the way Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami ousted the late Dr. Giorgio Borg Olivier from leadership? Or the way Dr. Lawrence Gonzi lorded it over John Dalli? Or more recently the gush of blood letting on the carpet in the ongoing JPO saga? Is he writing about the same NP, or a different one?

As for democracy, as the great Orson Wells wrote - in 500 years of peace and stability, Switzerland managed to produce the cuckoo clock; Italy, in 500 years of revolution and bloodshed produced Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Garibaldi et al. That is the difference between the NP and the MLP...in that order.

I give my best wishes to Dr Borg Olivier.

He will definetly have a difficult task to achieve what Mr Saliba achieved

About what Dr Borg Cardona said he is perfectly correct. It is true that few delegates in the PN vote for top posts, but results speak for themselves.

900 MLP delegates created a disaster for the party and also for Malta because we never truly had an opposition in Malta.

Consider a company with shareholders, who choose or elect their directors. How is the CEO of the company chosen? As far as I know, any good company would not elect their CEO through its shareholders but rather, it is the Directors representing the shareholders that choose the CEO.

The PN Executive Members are the PN Directors chosen or elected from the PN members/shareholders (party councillors). Today, the PN Directors chose their CEO, and other top officials.

Ultimately, choosing a CEO for a company is not a test in democracy but a test in what works. Looking back at the past 20 years, I would argue that the management principles used by the PN to select their CEO has worked better than those employed by the MLP.

Bocc, that's subtle dictatorship. In the MLP things might seem more unruly as it's more democratic.

Do you want us to believe that all PN paid-up members are happy with the way in which things are run in the PN?

And by the way, the 2 contendors were not allowed to give any comments to the press, apart from PN-owned media. Hmmmmm it seems neither Peppi nor Lou nor any other guru commented about this.

@ABC
Puke, puke Give us a break..

As usual ABC shows he is just a PN apologist who tries to portray himself as a neutral commentator

Hooray PN democracy and the small club of elite voters....

At least they should have the decency not to comment on the MLP's democratic credentials.

A few weeks ago many, most of them pn supporters, were saying how great is the idea to enable party members to vote. And now the pn general secretary together with the administration is elected by a mere 50. May be, Malta should stop holding general elections every 4/5 years and leave the decision to these enlighted few.

the years to come will surely be a good challenge for the new PN team cause now the 'new' labour are saying yes to most of the issues that the PN have welcomed and implemented in last decade or so!! That's not a matter of demoracy but simply another five years for the PN in governemnt no matter MLP will say or try to say!! :)

900 or so MLP delegates elect people who lose them three elections on the trot. 40 or so PN delegates elect people who win them three elections on the trot.

Am I missing something?

And, for the benefit of the lil'elves, democracy is what the constituency makes it: the PN constituency is (for darn good reasons) happy with its methods. If you're a member of a club, you abide by its rules or work within the rules to change them, a concept with which the lil'elves seem entirely unfamiliar.

So the MLP was wrong in electing the leader from almost 1000 delegates (elected by all party members) and the PN is right to elect a secretary general (the 3rd top most post within the PN) by just over 60 members?? We live in a country of hypocrites and this makes me sad!!

Congratulations to Dr Borg Olivier who has to face big challenges in the next 5 years!!

And they dare to give the MLP a lesson in democracy! Hip Hip the ''new'' Stamperija!

New building, old tactics!

Oqbra mbajjda...........

Even though I agree with Justin Tabone's justified comment on the issue of democracy within the PN, I would still like to congratulate Dr Paul Borg Olivier on his election. One looks forward to seeing more civilized relations between the two major parties. One feels confident we will henceforth witness less wild and uncontrolled cross-party attacks that have characterized the past years particularly due to some so-called journalists (or, to be blund, a she-opinion-maker posing as a journalist) beholden by the PN.

We are happy with things as they are and obviously reflect our tranquil state of our party affairs as opposed to the turmoil within the MLP.
No fuss, no back stabbing, no objection by delegates who are satisfied that those elected to the General Council are valid individuals who seek what is best for the Party. Delegates trust those who they elect and back their decisions.
Besides, Dr. Paul Borg Olivier has been elected for his widely known administrative abilities and no Nationalist is the least apprehensible by the choice. So, congratulations Paul and we wish you much success following the footsteps of another illustrious General Secretary who voluntarily vacated his position after a decade of repetitive successes.
Congratulations also to the others who have been elected in various positions and we trust that they will discharge their new duties to their best abilities.
Maybe the MLP should take a hard look at their system of electing their officials and remember that the bigger number of participants in any competitive situation, always renders the greater number of diverging opinions leading to less unanimity

nice election! 41 votes are enough to win an election for a top job in the PN!! Yeah Democracy MADE IN MALTA

oh look...only 59 voters to elect paul borg olivier.... (and a similar amount elected joe before that). 900+ elected jason and those before him. hmmmm it seems that the less the voters the better for the party!

Let us stop being negative and instead congratulate Dr.Borg Olivier and wish him all the best. I am sure he is most capable of doing a very good job. Well done Dr.Borg Olivier.

Is that what you call democracy?

What a fair and representative election. With just 41 votes you can get the top job in the Nationalist Party without consulting the general opinion of all delegates. A real test in democracy.