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Sunday, March 10, 2013, 13:22

Gonzi resigning PN leadership

Lawrence Gonzi stepping down.

Nationalist leader Lawrence Gonzi announced today that he was assuming complete and total responsibility for the general election defeat and was stepping down from the party leadership.

He said he would not be a candidate when the party held the election of its leader and deputy leader as it was required to do in terms of its statute after a general election.

He also told a press conference this afternoon that the party bowed its head to the the people's verdict.

"I promise that my colleagues and myself will continue to serve the people and their country. This country had potential and can overcome its challenges. We will continue to work for the country's progress, this time from the Opposition," Dr Gonzi said.

"We will serve with honesty and loyalty."

He congratulated the Labour Party and its leader Joseph Muscat.

"He is now the prime minister, and he deserves respect and recognition as the person  who has to lead the country in the challenges which it faces," he said. The burden, he said, was a heavy one.

Dr Gonzi said he had no doubt that the PN would contribute its share for the country to continue to move forward and to create jobs.

He thanked all those who had worked with the government as well as those who had worked in the Nationalist Party.

"I shoulder total and complete responsibility for what has happened," Dr Gonzi said.

He thanked all those who had voted for the PN and said his message was one of courage.

"Stay positive, continue believing in the country which can overcome the rough weather which engulfed other countries," he said.

The PN, he said, would need to re-examine itself, re-establish its roots and renew itself.

He said he would not participate in the the process for the election of a new leader of the party but would do his part to ensure that the party was modernised.

Dr Gonzi said he was not completely surprised by the extent of the election defeat, but it had been difficult to make a complete assessment because of the large number of undecided voters.

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Tony Scicluna

Mar 11th, 13:32

PN needs to have a look inside and out. But yes PN will come back. Might need some time though.

Pierre Camilleri

Mar 10th, 20:53

Well said, Very well said

Joseph Apap

Mar 10th, 22:42

Did you go to the Police with your corruption charges as you should have done?

Charlie Mallia

Mar 11th, 02:41

The only hero of this election campaign is no one other than Franco Debone he is the man that changed politics in Malta forever he went against a giant party and with his fight all Malta won he will be remembered as a villain with the hard core PN but by the ordinary people he is one hell of a bloke Malta owe you a lot Franco, when he spoke he knew he was right.

Herman Mercieca

Mar 11th, 01:55

Twanny mhux li gibhom biss imma li tkun taf tuzhom u tqasamhom tajjeb u mux jintilfu kif ghamlet dolores christina.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Mar 10th, 20:21

if you still believe this myth about Gonzi, you can never understand why he suffered such a big loss.

J Borg

Mar 10th, 18:38

I would not have allowed FD make scene after scene simply by improving on the failures..and not by being hard on them.

he was too soft...but knew how to take €500 in his pocket!!! Fidil ir ragel ukoll

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Mar 11th, 03:22

The last thing Malta needs is a PM like Gonzi.

JOHN WHITE

Mar 10th, 18:12

Paul, everyone is subject to some form of mistakes but i would like to tell you that the PN is not a finished business as you think.

Paul Zammit

Mar 10th, 19:08

@John

of course not ... my **gut feeling** is that JM won't manage to keep a single one of his major promises and hence, in 5 years time.. he'll be back to square one... u mark me words. Sure enough, I hope I'm wrong.

Donna Parnis

Mar 10th, 19:31

John White, Gonzi made mistake after mistake, no one in the pn shouldered responsibility not even Gonzi, The pn need to re invent the party without the clique without AG, RCC and DCG for a start. This has been long overdue and Paul Zammit, JM will do his duty to this country not just for the selected few.

R. Balzan

Mar 10th, 20:05

@ Paul Zammit - my gut feeling is that the PN will not be re-elected with a majority for the next 2 years - unless they purge themselves and get rid of all their arrogant incompetents.

Joseph Apap

Mar 10th, 22:59

Il-fuq minn elf mijun Ewro biex jintefqu bejn 2014 sal 2020

Abjad trid tghidlu abjad u iswed trid tghidlu iswed

Il Dr Gonzi wiehed ired jirringrazzjah ta shem kbir li hadem ghall Malta taghne ilkoll bhalma irringrazzjah Il Prim Ministru il gdid Dr. Joseph Muscat u niehu l-okkazzjoni bie nifrah lill Dr Muscat fuq ir rebha hekk kbira li kiseb
J-All jtih id don li jmexxi kif jixteiq ghal gid ta M

J Borg

Mar 10th, 18:33

pity much more people think exactly the opposite...but there is nothing wrong in not getting the message...its just silly& naive...but not wrong!!!

JOHN WHITE

Mar 10th, 18:14

Please do not exaggerate more then you know! Firstly he took responsibility as a true leader and a gentleman.Secondly please compare our standard of living with other country around us and then judge for yourself.

J Borg

Mar 10th, 18:36

Mr White,


what standard of living...we only compare fav with the low achievers...when one holdiays in spain, greece, and the riddled countries...these countries are still miles ahead of us...their transport systems, infrastructure etc are miles ahead of ours.

yes they are going through a bad time..but their standard of living is still miles ahead of ours

Mark Mangion

Mar 10th, 20:07

Yeah right Mr. White you sure follow european news - I suggest you watch Quinta Colonna on Rete 4 tomorrow at 9 pm. Have a look at the misery most Italian families and pensioners are facing and how 50% of youngsters are unemployed with no work openings. Then judge how we live here - nobody sleeps out in the cold in Malta.

alexander grech

Mar 10th, 18:06

Jien bhalek nazzjonalist u ma mortx nivvota.U kburi ghax l arroganza ta dawk li Dr.Gonzi iddefenda telfitni dak kollu li jien kont nemmen fih.L istess Dr.Gonzi ma gharafx jisma lil min kien qed iwegga u meta ma tismax biex minghalik ara kemm inwettaq tkun qieghed biss Tadura l materjalizmu u tghaffeg lin nies.In NIES tghix tajjeb u kif jixirqila trid u mhux thallas ghad dejn u l lussu ta haddiehor

JOHN WHITE

Mar 10th, 18:16

Naqbel mieghek Manuel,prosit tal-kumment

Simon Cutajar

Mar 10th, 18:31

sorry ! ma naqbilx mieghek ! jien bhalek nazzjonalist u Dr. gonzi kien immexxi il-partit mela hati iktar minhom ghax kien jaf bil-korruzjoni u hallija adejja . kien jaf li bl'arrivva morna il- bahar u hallija emm !! jekk ma kienx jaf bijhom allura ma kienx qed jamel xoghlu sew ! jien next election immur nivotta ax f'din ma mortx

Franco Ebejer

Mar 10th, 19:11

Naqbel mieghek u tant iehor hawn Manuel....Pero Vot Invalidu.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Mar 10th, 20:22

How can a good leader lose 35,000 of his followers? Something must be wrong with him.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Mar 10th, 20:32

THat was Gonzi's problem, he only listed to those leeches around him and not the people.

Michel Bencini

Mar 10th, 16:57

Mr.Gonzi did not make any mistakes. Labour is inheriting a country with a strong economy and solid foundations. Maltese are not dying of hunger or running ragged in the streets. The fact is that people, at some point in time, want a change no matter how good they may have it. What one has to focus on now is responsible good governance. Once you become the captain of the ship, you try steer it well

Paul Micallef

Mar 10th, 17:06

Michel Bencini: If you are one of the few who are doing well, then I have to take you off your cloud no 9 and bring you back to reality, where a vast number of Maltese citizens are in risk of poverty! Also, to ignore things such as the oil scandal and ignore the 5 billion deficit the country has and the 800 million deficit Enemalta has is out of order! PN should get rid of people such as 'Aust'!

JOHN WHITE

Mar 10th, 18:23

Paul,yes where are the vast number of Maltese who at risk of poverty? Reading your words looks like the picture of Malta is full of vagabonds etc Come on... Also the 5 billion deficit,thanks to the maltese ppl that these are mostly an interior debit not like other countries. You forgot to mention one thing,that if it was for JM (IT-TARZNA) would have been kept alive like it was and keep on sucking.

Sandro Pace

Mar 10th, 18:33

Ms. Bencini, you should be employed in the PN strategy team. Nice attitude. 36000 difference and you say he did no mistakes. Firstly, Maltese realities are different from those of other much larger countries. Secondly, it depends what you mean by economy (jobs, spending power..), thirdly, people do not only vote on the economy, but on other issues. Lastly, macro statistics may be unrealistic.

cesco di luigi

Mar 10th, 18:51

Michel

If one has been cheated in Government post by blue -eyed boys with too much power I doubt if you would have voted PN. The PN noticed this mistake..very late in the day after 4 years of arrogance by AG and orders from RCC and manipualtion by WE/PBS. If this was not a mistake, then PN did not learn anything. rawna dubien as they say in Maltese -but we all have a vote not only RCC & Bondi & AG

Mario Mamo

Mar 10th, 19:37

The Drydocks again John White? It was sucking of course - due to gross mismanagement just like in AirMalta - but at least families were being fed. Whose families were being fed by the tens of millions of € that have been robbed of our taxes in commissionson from the HFO contract, from Mater Dei, from the VAT Department and from what else we will know when the whistling starts?

Eddy Privitera

Mar 10th, 18:21

twnny borg: Jidher car li l-poplu ma jridx min jghaddhi biz-zmien. Anki lill-partitarji nazzjonalisti ghadohom biz-zmien meta qalilhom li fl-10 ta' Marzu se jiccelebraw. Illum ammetta li ma kienx sorpriz bir-rizultat ! mela ghalfejn kien jghajjat li se jirbah " " JIEN INTELLAQ BIEX NIRBAH", kien jghid , meta KIEN JAF LI SE JITLEF !

Mario Mamo

Mar 10th, 19:22

Eddy, nahseb li Dr.Gonzi bilfors kien mohhu mistrieh li Joseph se jmexxi sewwa ghal gid ta' KULHADD. Ghalhekk hass li kella ticcelebra Malta kollha wara l-elezzjoni:)

twanny borg

Mar 10th, 20:20

Nipparaguna mhux issa imma wara certu zmien minn tmexxija ta' gvern gdid. Nistennew u naraw. Bhala malti avolja ma naqbilx li rebah l-ahjar partit xorta nixtieqlu success favur il-poplu.

twanny borg

Mar 10th, 20:25

Eddy kull mexxej jghid li se jirbah hadd ma jghid se jitlef inkluz il-pl fil-passat meta ukoll tilef. Gonzi qal li hemm indecizi u jekk nikkonvincu nirbhu.

Michel Bencini

Mar 10th, 16:47

The difference is obvoius: In 1987 people celebrated the end of a dictatorial and repressive regime which threatened its perceived enemies as if they were human garbage. Then you could not show you were with the PN.. Now the Nationalist have left a legacy of respect for a view which is different and oppositional. That is the reason why the Labour Party doesn't need its thugs to do their dirty work

cesco di luigi

Mar 10th, 18:53

Bencini

even the PN treated us like garbage ..and I was a PN supporter but not part of the clique.

David Farrugia

Mar 10th, 23:04

@ Bencini

Who told you that Gonzi and his cronies were not dictatorial? PL's margin of 37,000 votes reveal the voters abhorrence of GonziPN's way of Government. Not even at the end of Mintoff's regime did MLP suffered a humiliation of defeat in margins. Today's election results speak for themselves.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Mar 11th, 03:17

Michael, are you referring to the PN thugs at Haz-Zebbug on Sunday morning of 21 November 1981. You have a very selective memory.

Kurt Mifsud

Mar 10th, 17:15

U l-bqija? Jien dejjem ghallmuni nikkumpara ma min hu ahjar minni... apparti li meta nikkumpara nara l-istampa kollha u mhux x'ipengili haddiehor b'ghajnejja maghluqa!

JOHN WHITE

Mar 10th, 18:28

Kurt ma min tixtieq tikkumpara mal-Italja? Ma Franza? Ghidilna naqra pls.Ghax alla jbierek li bqajna ghaddejien minghajr ma zlaqna bhal dawn il-pajjizi hadd ma jsemmija! Apparti hekk lilna qabbluna mal-Germanja fuq bazi ta nazzjon ghad daqs taghna biex ma mmurx nifthiem li qedin daqsom ghax qadt ma nistaw inkunu.Kulhadd iffahhar lil din il-gzira imbghad iridu bidla fid-direzzjoni?? Boqq

G. Cachia

Mar 10th, 17:38

Mr. Brincat now that the Election passed you should not mention the Euro 500 a week increase in the salries of the Ministers. If your boss would increase his salary even by Euro 1000 a week you have to thank God that he will do it for the workers sake.

These people work 24 hours a day and they should have good salaries. These are the people who provided jobs for those who WANTED to work.

G. Cachia

Mar 10th, 17:51

Mr. Brincat:

Dr. J. Muscat while he became Leader of the Party had a salary of Lm13,000 yearly apart from the salary of EU?

Dr. J. Muscat when he became Leader of the Opposition he was taken for a whole 6 months even the EU salary? I am just asking.

The salary of a PM is less than the salary of a CEO in a Government entity? And you are mentioning the Euro 500 weekly that they back in 01/2012.

Donna Parnis

Mar 10th, 22:07

G Caxhia, regarding the 600euro weekly, they did not give it back only 14000 of it was given back , a lot more is still to be returned, PN stole from the country behind our backs, now the PL stole the country back from under their noses.

H. Psaila

Mar 10th, 18:38

At least he will not make a U-turn like Dr. Sant did when he lost election and declared immediately that he will resign and then he stayed on. This happened also with Tony Zarb, having tendered his resignation and then he stayed on also. What a coincidence.

Mr Nathan zammit

Mar 11th, 04:18

@h,psaila dr sant resigned twice, however the first time he was re-elected

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Mar 11th, 03:12

Well, here is one person who disagrees with you.

Joseph Fenech

Mar 10th, 15:18

The businessmen are with Joseph Muscat -- from where do you think all that Campaign money came from? It will be pay back time soon and the workers will suffer as Tony Zarb has already pledged that he sees nothing wrong to collaborate (sic) with businessmen - the soul has been sold for power.

T. Caruana

Mar 10th, 15:35

Ma nbidel xejn. Il-buisnessman DIGA qed jikmanda.
Mahfra lil-bisunessmen kriminali u L-oppozizjoni ghamlet studji mal-privat li issa jrid xi haga lura. Tenders mghagla, habi wara weghda elettorali.
Ma nbidel xejn. paqpaq GAHAN!

B. Cachia

Mar 10th, 15:05

Let's hope not. The party last had a genuinely open and competitive leadership election in 1976 and a strong leader emerged from the ranks. If one can't win the party leadership exclusively through one's own abilities and qualities, then one is probably not the right person for the job.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Mar 10th, 14:56

Hope not! The result shows how unpopular he is. We don't need another EFA.

S Farrugia

Mar 10th, 14:58

Hardly!

Denis Pace

Mar 10th, 16:02

It would be a big step for Joseph Muscat.
Despite the vilification of Gonzi by the LP, the leadership can only thank him for the way he ran the economy in turbulent times. This is the essence of democracy. The people have voted for a change....not just die-hard labourites! DO NOT FORGET THIS>

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Mar 11th, 03:10

If Muscat made Gonzi a President, he will turn many Maltese against him. Gonzi was divisive and played personality politics. You do not promote people like that. Selecting a PL parliamentarian as President did not help Gonzi one little bit.

John Abela

Mar 10th, 22:19

Very true!

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Mar 10th, 14:58

The PN should learn that scaremongering and character assassination not only do not work but actually boomerang.

Simon Cutajar

Mar 10th, 15:00

I'm a party supporter and Dr. gonzi was only a leader of " hbieb tal- hbieb " and he was surrounded by bunch of polite buggers ! he should be ashamed how he broke the party into pieces ! next election I will vote again the party but not this election .

Joseph Fenech

Mar 10th, 15:13

@ Simon Cutajar
New Hospital, new Schools, MCAST, EU Funds of € Billion+ , Fantastic Budget , University Investments , No Political interference to the Police Corps-- were these done for " hbieb tal - hbieb". May you enjoy Muscat's rule!!

Denis Pace

Mar 10th, 16:03

scaremongering and character assassination....applies to the way Gonzi was treated.... and it worked!

Kurt Mifsud

Mar 10th, 17:17

Sur Fenech, lanqas tisthi ssemmi l-isptar??!! L-MCAST li nfethet minflok l-iskejjel tas-snajja u min ma jridx jaf bi skola jrid ilaqqat sal-Form 5 xorta. L-iskejjel... hehe mur ara ta gewwa ghax dak l-essenzjali. Jekk ghandek xi dubju tkellem ma l-ghalliema!

JOHN WHITE

Mar 10th, 18:38

Il-hanina Kurt lanqas tisthi tmaqdar l-MCAST? Se tqabbel l-iskola tas-snajja mal mcast? Il-bibien miftuha li hemm huwa inkomparabbli ma ta snin ilu!! Student lanqas kien johlom bl-opportunitajiet li ghandhom issa.Allura billi taghmel sal-form 5,ghalinqas ikollok bicca certifikat li ghalkemm ma tantx timxi bih hemm xi haga rilevanti u li tnaqqas giri ta studenti li ma jkunu iridu jaghmlu xejn

Thomas Anderson

Mar 10th, 21:42

Simon Busuttil is 'Mr loose by over 30000 ''every election he took part in PN lost big and this is a fact.

S Farrugia

Mar 10th, 14:58

Issa naraw x'halla warajh!. Issa naraw fejnhom il-finanzi fis-sod!

Denis Pace

Mar 10th, 16:05

S.Farrugia...Dak kien zmien iehor. Il-Labour m'ghandux skuzi issa.....L-iskrutinju tal_EU qieghed hemm u kulhadd ghandu access ghal informazzjoni. Ninkwieta naqra kummenti bhal dawn li huma fdalijiet tal-passat!

Kurt Mifsud

Mar 10th, 17:18

Hekk tahseb Denis? Mela ghala d-dipartimenti tal-gvern ikun ghaddejjin gas down qabel l-elezzjoni jitfghu il-karti fis-shredder???

R. Cilia

Mar 10th, 14:11

Cesco, he even asked Dr.Gonzi to give advice to Dr.Muscat. LOL!!!

Carmelo Aquilina

Mar 10th, 13:55

on the contrary Simon was the fresh face and outlook that the PN desperately needed ! Too late though..a thorough purge of the tired old guard is now needed

P Bonnici

Mar 10th, 14:06

The PL did not get rid of the old guard, Dr Muscat reinstated all the old fossils.

Yet I wish Dr Muscat all the best. Dr Muscat, please be strong!

Ray Abela

Mar 10th, 14:11

Carmelo one of the reasons that this was a landslide victory for the PL was due to INCOHERENT SIMON at his best! He would have been better off staying in Brussels and the PN would have been better off with Joe Borg as deputy leader!

H. Wait

Mar 10th, 14:13

Like

Mario Mamo

Mar 10th, 14:30

P Bonnici please stop whining !! Your pathetic views are not shared by enough people to keep the PN in power INDEFINITELY thanks God. The electorate has shown that you and your like are expired. Take heed of what your leader is saying . Do not humiliate yourself further. Pull your head up from the sand and look to the future. May the electorate's hopes be fulfilled for the good of all.

Denis Pace

Mar 10th, 16:06

I hope JM does not put old dinosaurs in his cabinet...

Malta voted for a new chapter....No place for labour politicians from the 70's and 80's

Kurt Mifsud

Mar 10th, 17:19

@Denis - Bhal Austin Gatt ezempju?

Mario Mamo

Mar 10th, 18:41

Denis what's wrong with dinosaurs? You seem to be one from the way your mind works......The greatest number of voters in the history of local politics has chosen Joseph to lead the country so they must have complete faith in his judgement. There are political dinosaurs who might still be very valid and there are political stillborns like your deputy leader from Brussels.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Mar 11th, 03:06

Simon, the fresh face the PN needed? A most divisive figure. Put him in charge quickly. We need to make sure that Labour stays there for 25 years at least.

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