The members of the Nationalist Party's executive committee will this evening be voting for a new administration to lead the party in the coming years. It is very encouraging to see that a new generation of individuals are offering their services to the party and, ultimately, to the country. The new PN headquarters will soon experience the vibes of a renewed energy coming from a team determined to take the party to a new era, building on the achievements of a brilliant past.

I shall be running for the post of general secretary together with my colleague, Paul Borg Olivier, who, like me, has been involved in politics for a good number of years.

Why have I submitted my nomination for this particular post, I have been repeatedly asked in the last few days. My answer is rather simple: I want to serve. I want to spend my energy in a cause I believe in wholeheartedly. I am fully aware of the responsibilities, risks and sacrifices attached to such a high-profile post.

On deciding to go for it, I have barely considered my personal and my family's interests, which would probably have been better served through other ventures. I am sure that this applies to all those who accept similar challenges not necessarily related to politics.

Would I be dedicating all my energy to help renew the party and lead it, together with others, to a victory in the 2013 general election? Yes. And much more than that. My ambition is to help inject into the party a new lease of energy. I want to revolutionise the way the party works at grassroots level. To create an effective scouting system through which candidates, volunteers and potential party members are roped in. To ensure that all those who have distanced themselves from the party, even though they share its principles, are brought back to fold.

To convince others that the party has the best policies for the country. To make the party's media the best on the island so that our message could reach even those who are not so much interested in politics. The new media offer us a golden opportunity to reach so many people, particularly the younger generation. I want the party to remain close to the people at all times.

The party has now a brand new HQ. The building is spacious, modern and functional. In a few weeks' time it should be buzzing with activity. It should be the place where new ideas are born. If elected, I will ensure that all those involved in any committee, section, unit or department within the party would be able to contribute effectively to the party's policies. This includes party activists in Gozo.

Systems which used to work 20 years ago may not be so effective today. We should be bold enough to change whatever we need to change in order to make the party a better organisation. One of the questions people ask is whether the commercial arm of the party should be run separately so that the party administration would be able to concentrate on the "core business" of the organisation: Politics. I am open to new ideas as long as these contribute to making the party stronger and more effective. However, I also believe that, very often, political decisions would need to be taken even within the commercial segment of the party, particularly the media. That is why the general secretary and, indeed, the party administration should always remain in control, at least at macro level, of all party operations.

The PN has a glorious past. It has achieved a lot throughout the years, mostly for the country. This came about thanks to successive hard-working leaders who took the party from strength to strength. This is what inspires me at this very important juncture in my political career.

Whoever is elected general secretary of this party this evening does not need to start from scratch. However, there is still a lot of work to be done so that the party can keep winning the people's hearts and minds, not for the sake of doing so but so that our country keeps prospering even in the face of tough challenges the future may offer.

Mr Bonnici is a Nationalist member of Parliament.

c.bonnici@onvol.net

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