Today we turn a new page in the history of the Nationalist Party. And as you read this column, some 900 PN councillors are about to write it.

Voting takes place today to confirm my candidature for the leadership of the party. If councillors confirm last Saturday’s vote with a 66 per cent majority, I will be taking over at the helm of the party after a nine-year stint by our current party leader Lawrence Gonzi.

For too long internal party strife caused untold harm to the party and decimated our electoral chances

Having successfully steered the country out of the dangers of the world’s worst recession in a century, Dr Gonzi will be leaving the helm with his head held high.

In casting their vote, it is not for me to tell councillors what to do.

They know what is at stake and I respect their loyalty to the party.

But on this occasion, I wish to share some reflections with you on what lies ahead for our party.

Firstly, last Saturday’s vote sent out a strong and clear message. The serious and mature manner in which the electoral proceedings were conducted, right from the start of the leadership campaign to the very end, speak for themselves.

And I have only words of praise for my colleague contestants Mario de Marco, Francis Zammit Dimech and Raymond Bugeja. Their conduct was exemplary and Mario in particular, gave a strong signal in favour of party unity when he conceded at the first round upon the announcement of the result of last Saturday’s vote. Mario showed that, despite its current predicament, the party has certainly not lost its dignity. If anything, the opposite is the case.

Through their conduct, Mario, Francis and Raymond have shown tremendous loyalty to the party. And I would see to it that the party reciprocates and repays their trust by involving them directly in the ambitious tasks ahead of us.

Secondly, it is now time to regroup and to come together. For too long internal party strife had caused untold harm to the party and decimated our electoral chances. The electorate does not take kindly to a party that is seen to be divided. Last Saturday’s election sent out a message that party councillors want, above all, unity to prevail once again.

I would personally take it upon myself to ensure that the councillors’ desire for unity is respected.

Thirdly, the party must now regroup and move on. A great many challenge awaits us. The financial situation of the party calls for urgent action but so does the need to revisit the party statute and structures as well as the need to reorganise to get it back in shape as soon as possible in time for the upcoming European Parliament election next year, when our target needs to be a third seat for the PN.

If all goes well tonight, I will be announcing my first initiatives on putting back the party on its feet in the coming days.

Fourthly, the party needs to go back to the people. In this regard I should like to lead by example. We will not wait for people to come to us. We will go to the people.

I know that I will not be alone in this mammoth task. This massive outreach exercise will be conducted on an ongoing basis and will involve all the party leadership, our members of Parliament, our candidates, our local councillors and our party councillors themselves.

Last but not least, the PN must be an active and credible Opposition that makes its presence felt in Parliament.

It must be a strong Opposition that keeps the Government on its toes and hold it to account for its actions and misdeeds. But likewise, it must be a constructive Opposition that has the courage to agree and to cooperate with the Government when it is in the country’s interest to do so.

And it must also be an Opposition that has clear and innovative ideas and that is able to articulate alternative policy positions to those pursued by the Government.

In this regard, as soon as I take the oath of office as Leader of the Opposition, I would announce our shadow cabinet and embark on a programme aimed at ensuring that all our MPs are entrusted with the leadership of focus groups that bring together experts and practitioners in their respective area of responsibility.

There are great challenges that await the PN. And we must overcome them.

For starters we shall work hard and unstintingly to regain people’s respect. We shall strive to restore our credibility. And we shall put all our energy and commitment into it. In short, we want to earn your trust. We do not expect it for free.

Tonight, we want to start a fresh page with you, together.

Simon Busuttil is Nationalist Party deputy leader.