Time to reflect and to rebuild
The people have spoken. And it could not be more clear than this. Congratulations to the Labour Party and to Joseph Muscat personally who steered his party to an unprecedented electoral victory in post-independence history.
This is democracy at work and the Nationalist Party is the first to bow its head to the people’s will even when the result is so painful and devastating.
My first thoughts go to party activists, hundreds of them, all volunteers, who worked tirelessly and generously throughout the campaign. It was a privilege to work with them as well as with the party’s candidates. Through this column I want to transmit my heartfelt gratitude to all party activists and candidates and I would like them to feel proud of their contribution to the party and to the country. Likewise, I think of the tens of thousands of PN voters who last Saturday placed their trust in our party.
Despite the disappointment I would like to reassure them that their trust will be honoured and reflected through a strong and loyal Opposition in Parliament.
As to the rest, it is now time for reflection and the party needs the time and space to do this serenely. Finger pointing and rash decisions will not make for good long-term results. Calm and prudence, on the other hand, provide the serenity to make thoughtful and rational decisions that can enable us to make the necessary overhaul in the party structures that can eventually return it to its former glory, as the party of the people.
The scale of the defeat clearly shows that the people’s verdict had been long made and there was no chance of reversing it during the campaign. For over a year, opinion polls had consistently given a strong 12-point lead to Labour and despite the longest electoral campaign we barely managed to shave it. Our hope that the army of undecided voters would ultimately give the PN another chance, proved to be wishful thinking.
In the coming weeks, the party will no doubt study and discuss the reasons for the defeat and lay solid foundations for reconstruction. Some reasons of what went wrong readily come to mind: internal divisions, the handling of water and electricity bills and the honoraria issue but also the stream of complaints about MEPA and the perceived disconnect between the Government and voters. But surely there is more than meets the eye and there are other reasons which need to be determined and understood.
On the other hand, whatever the shortcomings, the PN should be proud of having handed back to the electorate a country with a sound economy and a high standard of living.
The PN’s legacy is a better country and a better society. And even if this has came at a high political price, it is a legacy to be proud of.
As to myself, I am humbled by the scale of the trust that has been placed in me in the two electoral districts that I contested, the ninth and the eleventh district and I pledge to honour this trust.
Accordingly, as I promised to the electorate, this week I will resign my seat in the European Parliament in order to take up my seat in the House of Representatives here in Malta. It is difficult for me to leave my Brussels seat for more reasons than one. But I will stand by my pledge to serve here in Malta.
When I decided to contest the deputy leadership of the party just a few days before the Government collapsed, I knew that I was coming in at a very difficult time when the easiest thing for me to do was to stay out of it.
I knew that I was going to face an election campaign in which Labour had an almost unassailable lead. And I also knew that the post would be statutorily up for re-election immediately after the election.
So I am prepared to face the consequences.
But I do it with a clear conscience. I am proud to have been there for my party in the hour of need and I would not have forgiven myself if I had not done my part when the party needed help most.
I am prepared to continue serving. Over the next few days I will be deciding on whether I should do this by standing for the party leadership.
In the meantime, however, it is right and proper to honour the name of the person who holds it to date: Lawrence Gonzi.
Dr Gonzi, as ever a gentleman, has taken complete and personal responsibility for the result. He is a man of integrity who has served the country well and who has delivered excellent results.
I have no doubt in my mind that history will judge him well. Thank you, Lawrence.
Simon Busuttil is Nationalist Party deputy leader.
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J Micallef
Mar 15th, 09:44
Bla...bla...bla.
Let's see some action.
The less said from the PN camp the better. This election was not lost over the past few months. PN started losing before 2008 elections. So cut the useless rhetoric and let us see some concrete action.
Frank Zammit
Mar 15th, 06:47
If a record number of people said no to Simon as deputy PM, what makes him think that they want him as PM? .....he use to say on TV, "if u want to have me as deputy PM, vote for the nationalist Party." He got his answer; a record majority said NO THANK YOU SIMON.
David Griscti
Mar 15th, 10:51
The record number of people decided a long time ago to reject the PN. Polls showed it clearly. Simon knew this, yet instead of taking the easy way out and waiting for the defeat, he showed his loyalty and he gave it all at the moment of need, even if he knew that it could damage him personally. That is true leadership...not standing by, contributing to the mess as a minister, and now speaking out.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Mar 15th, 11:02
There was NO "record number of people who said no to Simon as deputy leader of the NP. - That is what is at issue with the Nationalist Party faithful, now. The rest can stay out, or they may continue to scream until they are blue in the face.
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 15th, 13:05
David.
So why did he take all supporters of PN for a ride and convince them of a win when he himself was convinced of a defeat from the very start and even before. What leader fights a loosing battle?
David Griscti
Mar 15th, 16:51
A loyal man, that's who! He could have waited in the wings and than sailed into the limelight...like some former cabinet members are now shamelessly trying to do. It is quite obvious that as the Deputy Leader he could not tell one and all that it was a lost cause....mhux ovvja! Yes, I agree, it may be hard to comprehend, because the world has become so self-serving. He is made of different stuff.
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 15th, 02:42
Ma nafx minn fejn jivvinthom Simon, il partit kollu responsabbli ghat telfa elettorali minnbarra hu. Meravilja.
David Griscti
Mar 14th, 23:53
Incidentally, it needs to recover 18k votes to be at
a par, not 36K. If it recovers 36k it would be 36k
ahead itself.
David Griscti
Mar 14th, 23:50
You know what, maybe he was naive and too loyal to accept to
help the Party at its time of need, but if you see your
son drowning in a raging sea, do you jump in to save him
or do you stand by and just cry when he drowns. I would much
rather trust the leadership to a person who will jump in
the sea for his son, than a person who will sit it out
and play the innocent later.
Tony Brincat
Mar 14th, 22:47
In a period where disloyalty and self serving interests ruled the day, Simon showed that there are still people of integrity around. Thank you Simon for doing what you could. Sadly it was long lost before you joined the battle. That you did so inspire of knowing that you were giving up so much for a seat in Opposition (whilst others crept in the shadows) says a lot about you.
robert pace
Mar 14th, 19:41
Tal Grocer hi!!!!!
David Griscti
Mar 14th, 18:10
The Party needs to open its doors to civil society. It needs an leader used to talking to civil society, used to working closely with civil society. We have seen him do it so ably throughout the EU accession process. We have seen him do it so professionally throughout his years as an MEP and Chairman of AZAD. Three short impossible months, keeping to someone else's script, does not change that!
B. Cachia
Mar 14th, 21:24
Well, if he was naive enough to accept to lend his name to a disastrous and ill-managed campaign without having any authority to change anything, then he's probably not smart enough to lead the party at a time when it needs to recover 36,000 votes just to be on a par with Labour.
Tony Brincat
Mar 14th, 22:50
@ Cachia
Not naive at all. He was aware of the risks but put the party's interests before his own. Unlike certain others that just looked after their own skin. We need Simon and people like him to restore some dignity to the Nationalist Party.
Tony Brincat
Mar 14th, 22:51
It needs to recover half of the 36,000 to be at a par with Labour, it's simple maths.
David Griscti
Mar 14th, 17:36
Some people really have a very short memory it seems. Simon was not a cabinet member. He was not a government member. He was not even a Party official, until barely 3 months before the election. Others however were cabinet members, including those who allowed the dignity of so many to be trampled upon by MEPA time and again, without lifting a finger. People should read between the lines!
E Bonnici
Mar 14th, 13:41
Kemm ghidt - "il-vot tieghek oqghod attent x'se taghmel bih, izen sew meta tigi biex tivvota, ghax ghandek hames snin quddiemek u jista' jiddispjacik, imma mbaghad ikun tard wisq.
U ghidt ukoll "ma tistax tafdah bhalha l-prim ministru tieghek, la ma rrappurtax mil-ewwel il-kaz tad-droga".
Ahjar issa flok qed tifrahlu tghid li "ahna ghamilna bhal-gemel - ma rajniex (jew ma ridniex naraw) hotobtna"
William Caligari
Mar 14th, 13:00
Simon Busuttil, hu ftit pacenzja, u mill-gdid ghati titwila
lejn dawn l-ahhar 3 xhur fejn kont int, x'ghadt int, u f'kemm
il-programm tidhert inti, hlief Simon tiela u Simon nizel ma'
konniex naraw, kulhadd kien jahseb li bik ir-rebha kienet gewwa tal-pn.
sakemm dan l-ahhar, donnu kulhadd fehem id-duhhan iswed li beda
hiereg mic-cumnija tal-pn.!!!!!
Adriano Spiteri
Mar 14th, 09:55
Simon Busuttil authored the GonziPN manifesto even though he claims to have had an idea of a defeat before the campaign started. Therefore he gave the Nationalists false hope.
A new Nationalist party should be made up of new people. Simon Busuttil should shoulder responsibility and move out.
Dr De Marco will rebuild the Nationalist party from scratch.
Tony Brincat
Mar 14th, 22:56
I agree we need new people but Demarco is hardly new. He has been an integral part of the previous government and comes from one of the PN traditional families.
Simon on the other hand is not part of the PN elite. That he wrote the electoral manifesto has nothing to do with it. The PN could have offered to pave the streets in gold and it still would have lost this election.
Raphael Dingli
Mar 15th, 03:16
Adriano, on one line you state that that the NP should be re-made of new people. On the next line you state that Dr De Marco will rebuild it. Is it one or the other?
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 14th, 09:53
Dr. Simon you were not born to be a politician and will never be one. Your part in the electoral campaigne proves it all.
D Axisa
Mar 14th, 09:42
I really think that since Simon was responsible for the 2008 electoral campaign, the MEPs campaign and now also involved in this years campaign which brought the downfal of the past famous PN party, he should really consider givng up and does not contest either the deputy leadership, let alone the contest for leader of the PN
A M Bonello
Mar 14th, 09:06
You should have remained an MEP.When PN asked you to take on the deputy leadership and you accepted it ,it was ever so obvious that the party was in PaNic mode.Did the party and the party secretary (whom will go down as the worst ever)really think that the people were that stupid enough to vote for the PN?Your voice representing the people of Europe would have been more effective.
david debattista
Mar 14th, 08:42
Learn the hard way !
M Portelli
Mar 14th, 08:35
Dear Simon,I'm not as confident as you are that a proper audit re hows and whys of defeat will indeed be taking place. If you had indications for over a year you certainly didn't do anything to really change the culture of arrogance. Why else did you prop up ministers and actions that earned the disgust of a highly relevant majority?
Martha Calleja
Mar 13th, 21:57
simon you are also responsible for this defeat...mep and local council and divorce ref...were clear indications that you were treating the people bad...you promised numerous times that you will start hearing our voices ...well this what you get..now stop crying over spilled milk .
effie stafrace
Mar 13th, 20:26
comments against simon busutill by arrigo makes us think that a rift in the pn will split the party
Joe Busuttil
Mar 13th, 20:17
Reflect ,Simon, reflect on what made you "tidhlu gas down go hajt". ( Thank you for teaching me that phrase).
E Bonello
Mar 13th, 19:42
Simon I voted PN even though I was not happy with the past administration, other PN voters opted to do something constructive about it & opted to vote the PN in opposition, given the PN the chance to reflect and do the much needed internal reforms. As a long life PN support I will support Marion De marco i think he has the credentials to rebuild this party to its glory days.
Alfred Fenech
Mar 13th, 18:51
Self inflicted fatal demise.
Saviour Mercieca
Mar 13th, 17:31
Bqajtu sal-ahhar tippretendu li l-poplu ghadu warajkom, bqajtu sal-ahhar tahsbu li taghkom biss tajjeb, bqajtu sal-ahhar taghmlu ta' raskom, bqajtu sal-ahhar tahsbu li l-Malti ghadu jara biss ahmar u blu. Iva jien wiehed minn dawk li vvutajt PL; ghalfejn?; ghax ridt nara l-PN jitnaddaf. Ghal inqas hekk nixtieq! Grazzi talli dawn l-ahhar xhur qatt ma smajtu min-nies.
Henry S Pace
Mar 13th, 17:05
You are one of the many that drove the PN 'Gass down into a brick wall'
Alfred Farrugia
Mar 13th, 17:04
The first thing that the Party needs to do is to listen to the recording of the victory speech of 5 years ago and check how far it implemented what was said. The people cannot be forgotten for 4 years with the hope of attracting them again in the last year. The biggest blunder committed by the PN administration was that it believed its own propaganda. Surrounding oneself with yes men is wrong.
joe micallef
Mar 13th, 16:18
Dear Simon
Nothwithstanding Lawrence Gonzi's declarations the old adage The King is Dead Long Live the King seems already on the PN table
Judging by the comments in your opinion pieces you have already laid your mentor to rest!
Quote 'I have no doubt in my mind that history will judge him well. Thank you, lawrence
What an early 'epitaph' to the fallen!!
Kurt Waschnig
Mar 13th, 15:36
Mr Simon Busuttil thanks Mr Gonzi and says: “I have no doubt in my mind that history will judge him well.” The chapter is closed and the PN is facing a terrible defeat and it will take much time for the PN to overcome this political trauma. Mr Muscat is young and full of energy and truthful, a modern and liberal democrat, the electorate trusts. Mr Muscat.
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 13th, 15:27
Mr Simon. : ma nafx, m'ghandix figuri f'ideja, saqsu lit tali, saqsu lil-Castilja, ma kontx ghadni gejt elet vice cap u ma nafx x'gara qabel. Simon what is there to reflect about?
Please choose the reason of your report below: