The broad reasons why the Nationalist Party lost the European elections are well known. Desmond Zammit Marmara in his article The Way Forward For Labour (June 10) wrote that several Nationalists will not vote the same in a general election. Such assurance given by a genuine political opponent should not tempt the PN to ignore this result or just pay lip service to what needs to be done to gain supporters, regain voters and retain the faithful. There is all to play for between now and the end of this legislature. All the talk about a "difficult election" by Joseph Muscat was just a gimmick. The recession and its effects were a God-sent package to all opposition parties in Europe. But these effects are part of the broad causes of the defeat suffered by the PN.

Any analysis of the defeat must delve deeply into the individual complaints against the party and government which kept thousands of supporters at home, caused others to spoil their ballot paper and others to vote Labour. The PN must answer a crucial question: Why is it leaving the voter with only one weapon, i.e. to use or not to use the vote to make its voice heard and to tell the Party that they are hurt? So many PN supporters are absolutely fed up seeing others getting everything they ask for because they have someone to fight their cause. It is a well known fact that there are many Labour supporters in government departments who use their network to favour Labour supporters and cause PN supporters to moan against "their" government. This is Malta and Gozo, people are known, secrets are revealed within minutes, knowingly or unknowingly, as to how things work out. To regain and retain their supporters, the PN must give them what is rightfully theirs and not force them to vote against the government and political party they love.

I'm not advocating the discrimination which was rampant in the bad old times of Labour governments. In this context, while I congratulate Simon Busuttil for obtaining such an endorsement from the electorate, I quote from his article Dissecting The Result (June 10): "During the campaign, I came across innumerable people who had complaints which, on examination, seemed justified and not impossible to redress. Yet, when approaching ministries and government departments, these people found no solace, still less a remedy." I have heard all this from the PN local elections candidates.

The PN must take note or face dire consequences. The administration must be open to hear all its supporters and all those who want to be heard. It is not being responsive enough. So many appointments sought and none given. So many e-mails without a reply or even an acknowledgement. So many promises of "we must meet soon", but the soon never happens. It may be that the pressure of work is too much for the administrators of the party. But there is no option. If the party want to gain and regain voters, act it must. Of course there are frivolous requests which amount to blackmail tactics, but these are in a minority of cases.

The party must make better use of all its resources - human and otherwise. No activist should feel ignored or made to feel needed at election time. Local committees should be supported as their members are the ones with a great affinity for the party. Local offices/clubs must function better. They should be the listening posts of the party and they should be open at times that suit their members and not the managers. Ażad should be revived and given back its former glory. The Skola Politika Fortunato Mizzi based in Gozo, of which I have the honour to be principal, should be given more support. The enrolled students are committed to their work and I'm sure that the project will pay dividends in the future.

But what about gaining new supporters? The PN government must go all out to show that it has the solutions to our problems as a nation. Labour has offered next to nothing so far. But these solutions must be applied sensitively, without any perceived or actual arrogance and with due consideration to the effects on sections of our population. Projects in the pipeline must come to fruition. The government must learn to explain in easy language what is holding them up. Ministers must show through their actions that the scares dangled in front of the electorate by Joseph Muscat were just election fodder. Do that, and he will be discredited. Time is still on the PN's side. The enormous amount of money coming our way from the EU should change this country in the next few years. Yes, the recession is holding us back. But an awful lot can be done to show that the government cares about the individual and society at large. A new generation of voters is waiting to make its choice. If we present them with new opportunities they will be with us come 2003.