Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday gained 96.5 per cent of the vote in the PN leadership contest in which he was the only candidate, increasing his level of support within the party from when he was first elected leader in 2004.
There is only one candidate and I’ll be voting for him
The PN party delegates cast their vote by secret ballot at the PN headquarters in an election which was prompted after MP Franco Debono abstained in a parliamentary vote of no confidence presented by the Labour Party last month.
After the result was announced, Dr Gonzi thanked delegates for their support and said this was a “golden opportunity” for the party to move forward.
“I’m very pleased to see that we are one family. This family is united and determined to be of service to the country.
“Even if we face internal criticism or tension among us, at the end of the day we are one united family determined to work for the good of the country,” he said to loud applause, cheering and a standing ovation by delegates.
“I hope we will not let this pleasant experience we have shared go with the wind. This is a golden opportunity to build our future,” he said, recalling that eight years ago he had promised to be of service to the party and, through the party, of service to the country. Dr Gonzi said he was pleased that the rules of democracy had been exercised and thanked all delegates for taking part, even those who did not express support for him.
“We are all pulling one rope for the good of the country,” he said, stressing this was a secret ballot enabling everyone to express themselves freely.
Out of the 899 party delegates, 48 did not vote for Dr Gonzi, either by voting no, not voting, invalidating their vote or not collecting their voting documents.
Dr Gonzi earned 851 of the 873 valid votes cast, while 22 voters marked no on the referendum-style ballot sheet which asked voters to mark Yes or No under the party leader’s name.
The result shows an increase of support for Dr Gonzi who earned 94 per cent in 2004, solidifying his position as party leader and easily surpassing the minimum two-thirds of the vote.
Voting continued till 8 p.m. and the result was announced by the chairman of the electoral commission, Michael Refalo, to loud applause from hundreds of delegates who filled the PN headquarters.
Of the 887 delegates who collected their voting documents, five did not show up and nine invalidated their vote.
Meanwhile, 12 voting documents remained uncollected, including those of MPs Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Jesmond Mugliett, EU Commissioner John Dalli (who was Dr Gonzi’s leadership rival in 2004), and former party president Frank Portelli.
Dr Debono cast his vote around 6.30 p.m. but declined to comment except to express disapproval over how the contest was organised.
“You should look at the law on political parties and party financing for which I have campaigned, drafted and presented in Parliament to see how a political party in a modern European state should be conducting its business.
“It is very unfortunate that in 2012, political parties remain the most unregulated bodies at Maltese law.”
When contacted, Dr Pullicino Orlando was cagey when asked why he failed to take part in the contest:
“I obviously knew I was meant to pick up the voting document by yesterday at 8 o’clock but I didn’t. However, I really would not like to give a comment at this stage,” he said.
Mr Mugliett and Mr Dalli, who was in Malta yesterday, could not be reached for comment.
Dr Portelli, on the other hand, said he chose not to pick up his voting document because he wanted to abstain in an open way.
Dr Gonzi voted in the afternoon, joining a steady stream of party delegates.
Former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami was among the first to vote, shortly before 11.30 a.m. where a queue of about 50 delegates formed inside the headquarters.
“There is only one candidate and I’ll be voting for him. If there was someone else there would be a choice,” a chuckling Dr Fenech Adami said.
Dr Gonzi will address a special meeting of the PN general council this morning.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat in a statement last night challenged Dr Gonzi to test the “situation” in Parliament.
He also urged the government to discuss Labour’s motion on the justice situation from this week, saying a failure to do so would show last night’s exercise was “a waste of time”.
Dr Gonzi was elected to the PN helm eight years ago with 808 votes from 859 votes cast in the second round of the leadership election after second-placed candidate Mr Dalli withdrew from the race and Louis Galea was eliminated in the first round.