The Nationalist Party will elect a new leader in the next three months after Lawrence Gonzi took personal responsibility for his party’s crushing defeat at the polls yesterday.
I take full personal responsibility for this result
Addressing a televised press conference barely two hours after it emerged that Labour had won the election, Dr Gonzi said the people had spoken and the PN fully accepted the electorate’s decision.
“I fully understood the message of the electorate and I take full personal responsibility for this result,” Dr Gonzi said, flanked by his deputy Simon Busuttil and general secretary Paul Borg Olivier.
“This result also has consequences and I will not be taking part in the process for the election of a new PN leader,” he said.
According to the PN statute, a general council must be held within three months of a general election to confirm the leadership and elect a new deputy leader.
Until a new leader assumes the helm of the party, the PN will continue to analyse the results and start a reorganisation process, Dr Gonzi said.
“The party now needs to reflect and start a regeneration process to make sure it will be in a position to serve at its best on the Opposition benches.”
Promising that the Nationalist Party would continue to work in the best interests of the country, he congratulated Labour leader Joseph Muscat and said he could rest assured of the Opposition’s collaboration.
Asked whether the PN was expecting such a heavy defeat, Dr Gonzi said that the polls gave certain trends and indications but it was difficult to reach a conclusion become so many people had declared themselves as undecided.
Dr Gonzi thanked all those who once again voted PN and promised the party would continue to play an important role in the country.
He also thanked those who voted Labour or decided to abstain as they also contributed to an important democratic process.
He urged PN supporters to “stay positive and continue believing in the country, which can overcome the rough weather that engulfed other countries”.