Though the leader’s special delegate, Simon Busuttil, may not be averse to the idea of reconciliation with rebel MP Franco Debono, the Nationalist Party insists it “is not for turning”.
“The position of the party executive regarding Franco Debono stands and the Nationalist Party is not for turning on this matter,” said the party’s information director, Frank Psaila, when contacted after Dr Busuttil made his comments on Radio 101 yesterday.
The PN executive has decided to ban Dr Debono from contesting the election on its behalf.
Dr Busuttil said the he was not against reconciliation with Dr Debono and others, as long as everyone assumed their responsibilities. He was replying to a caller who asked him to comment on what appeared to be a conciliatory tone by Dr Debono over the past few days.
Dr Busuttil said he bumped into Dr Debono in Republic Street, Valletta, a few days ago and people were surprised to see them chatting amicably with each other.
He said he too had noted Dr Debono’s conciliatory tone.
“If there is a possibility of reconciliation and unity with Franco and all those who feel hurt, we should go for it because the people want to see us united,” Dr Busuttil said.
“I am not saying that people should not assume their responsibilities. If I make a mistake, I will shoulder my responsibility.
“But even in shouldering responsibilities, there are still ways for unity to prevail over division and the people would like to see such unity,” Dr Busuttil said.
He said he did not know how such unity could come about but he agreed that Dr Debono’s recent behaviour had a conciliatory tone.
The PN, he said, was a party that embraced people of different ideas and it was able to keep them together by putting the national interest before narrow personal or sectoral interests.
The PN was a mosaic of ideas that produced a beautiful picture. Dr Busuttil said that he, like others, did not shirk from expressing views that could be different from that of a minister or the Prime Minister.
He said he has not decided yet whether or not to contest the election for deputy leader of the PN, having focused over the past week on ensuring that Dr Borg, the European commissioner-designate, got all the help he could get ahead of his hearing before MEPs.
He was now turning his attention to the PN contest and, while he had not yet decided, he hoped there would be a strong contest between friends.
Dr Debono has spent the better part of this year fiercely attacking the Government and calling for ministers and even the Prime Minister to step down.
He recently called Lawrence Gonzi “Malta’s Hitler” and said that he would vote against the Budget if Transport Minister Austin Gatt remained in Cabinet, calling on Dr Gonzi to call an election immediately or face a Christmas campaign.
On his blog yesterday, Dr Debono said reconciliation was the key to the PN’s deputy leadership contest.
The PN, he added, should thank Dr Gatt for his contribution over the years but dump his confrontational ways and ensure that he remained out of the contest.
When contacted for a reaction to Dr Busuttil’s comments, Dr Gatt said: “No comment.”