PN’s choice for the future

The Nationalist Party will soon choose its new leader. Perhaps what the delegates should do is identify key qualities the leader should have.

PN delegates should not find it difficult to make an informed choice for the future

In my view, there are six key qualities: no baggage from the outgoing Administration; modern and secular; drive and determination; genuine listening and communication skills; ability to build bridges and loyalty.

Clearly, Ray Bugeja has no baggage.

Francis Zammit Dimech was only briefly in Cabinet. His past ministerial career could, however, be interpreted as a return to the past.

Simon Busuttil has no baggage and was not in Parliament, let alone in Cabinet. Some tried to associate him with the outgoing government. That is unfair.

Mario de Marco was in Cabinet and was also responsible for Mepa, perceived as the biggest albatross.

On balance, the one with least baggage is Bugeja but his total lack of political experience may not be what the party needs right now.

Busuttil seems to come out strongest on this quality.

The outgoing Administration has been labelled confessional and detached from societal realities, so the new leader needs to be modern and secular.

Age will be a factor, even if unfairly, so Bugeja and Zammit Dimech are at a disadvantage. That leaves Busuttil and de Marco. Both project a modern approach. Likewise on the secular front, but while Busuttil has a clean slate and was prominent in the EPP, de Marco has been an MP for the past 10 years at a time when civil society criticised the inability of Parliament to move with the times.

On balance, de Marco and Busuttil probably both fit the bill, with de Marco having to shrug off a bit of legacy issues.

The job ahead is daunting, so drive and determination are a must.

Busuttil’s work rate and ethic are well known. Zammit Dimech and Bugeja can draw on their experience, albeit in different fields, so they should be able to manage expectations, but is that enough?

Post-election, de Marco is certainly displaying drive but some question his relative anonymity in the electoral campaign and his failure to offer his services as deputy leader, which could be interpreted as a lack of determination.

While Busuttil’s drive and determination are beyond question, de Marco may have to shrug off some lingering doubts.

‘Out of touch’ is a term used to describe the outgoing government, so delegates should be looking for someone with listening and communication skills.

Zammit Dimech is a fine orator but oratory is of secondary importance at this stage.

Bugeja’s declared decision to keep a low profile during the leadership campaign is rather odd.

De Marco has good presentational qualities and embarked on a campaign to interact with people. Whether that means he possesses genuine listening skills is another matter.

He defended his handling of Mepa and said that he tried to introduce an environmental dimension to it. The real problems with Mepa and why people literally hate it are its inefficiencies, inconsistencies and illogical approach. A failure to perceive this denotes detachment, hardly a quality that the new leader can afford.

Busuttil’s CV is based on his listening and communication skills. On balance it is clear that he has the edge on this quality.

Bridges were clearly broken. The next leader must repair them.

Bugeja is an unknown quantity and Zammit Dimech is a genuinely nice person with good relations with everyone.

However, I feel that his past in the Fenech Adami administrations will not serve him well when attempting to rebuild bridges with the unofficial civil rights movement.

De Marco declared he wants to bridge the gaps between the party’s policies and societal realities, but delegates will question why, as a former Cabinet member, he did not use his authority to change things.

Busuttil’s bridge building abilities are recognised. Simon clearly feels comfortable with civil society, but above all civil society feels comfortable with him and can confide in him.

Finally loyalty!

Bugeja said he considered contesting with Labour. Unwise.

De Marco hails from a respected political family. His Cabinet role indicate his loyalty. His relative anonymity in the electoral campaign and his failure to come to the party’s rescue in its darkest pre-electoral hour could however dampen his appeal. Zammit Dimech’s loyalty has always been very evident.

Discussing Busuttil’s loyalty is not really necessary, as it is crystal clear. He and Zammit Dimech are on an even keel with respect to this quality.

Given the above, delegates should not find it difficult to make an informed choice for the future.