What exactly would Simon Busuttil like to change within the Nationalist Party? That is a question that goes beyond his popular appeal and might well exercise a thinking element within those Nationalist councillors whose votes will elect the next deputy leader of the party.

Busuttil, the only declared candidate in the deputy leadership race so far, has rushed to set out his campaigning platform as one of change.

That is not revolutionary – the Prime Minister has already dismissed a general election contest on change by saying another Nationalist government is the only change the country needs. He said that in the context of constant, even ritual, questioning of Labour leader Joseph Muscat about what change he has in mind and, in particular, how would he achieve it.

What is sauce for Muscat is sauce for Busuttil. In the remaining days to the election of PN deputy leader, which he is widely touted to win, he will be expected to lay out his plans.

That will be a tricky test. For whatever the candidate proposes it will mean that his party is not doing it.

Though votes will be cast for him, tongues will wag. Perhaps, fingers too will wag. Busuttil has already been made to look by his party as having started on the wrong foot.

Before he had even confirmed his candidacy, he came out with one big call for specific change.

In accidental and not so accidental encounters with dissident MPs, in particular Franco Debono, Busuttil has called for unity, though qualified by acceptance of responsibilities. Clearly, he was dangling a carrot to Debono.

Swift as lightning, the party grandees fell upon him like a ton of bricks, through the mouth of Paul Borg Olivier, the party general secretary.

Closing one’s eyes, one could easily detect the voices of Austin Gatt and Richard Cachia Caruana in what Borg Olivier said – the party is not for turning.

Translating, Debono’s reconciliation-like gurgles had not impressed the hurt grandees. The punishment against him, and also against Jeffery Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett, stands.

Busuttil might as well not have qualified his conciliatory reaching out. He was rapped on the knuckles notwithstanding.

The immediate reaction was interesting. Debono furiously declared war once again, stating once more that he would not vote for the 2013 Budget if Gatt remained a minister, probably meaning no more than that he will abstain again.

Not so wily Busuttil. He swiftly cut short his stated deliberations on whether to contest or not and said, yes, he would. Whether that will add to his weight remains to be seen.

That will start with his answer, if he details one, on what he would like to change.

In popular terms Busuttil is the darling of the Nationalist electorate and of his leader. Not quite so of some members of the Cabinet.

His stock began falling when Lawrence Gonzi appointed him as the go-between with the electorate, the political doctor who would identify popular ailments and bring patients in for treatment.

Nationalist elements tell me how he went about it. People whose requests had not been met by ministers, surely because it was not possible to meet them, would go to Busuttil and he would pass them on to those same ministers.

Things move on. But, according to the number one candidate, not the need for change. Whether he will flesh out his platform remains to be seen. Similarly, whether any other potential candidate will step forward against the anointed.

The outcome remains a foregone conclusion, whatever mutterings their might be behind the scenes.

GonziPN will change.

The new slogan will centre on the Gonzi/Busuttil tandem. That will impress diehards and, Gonzi and the PN will hope, attract back doubters and defaulters.

Will it work? It did not in the European Parliament elections, when Busuttil did well but not so his hammered party.

What might change that in the run-up to the general election?