In his opinion piece of June 2, Lino Spiteri took it upon himself to pen what he assumed went on during the last PN executive meeting. Despite not having first-hand knowledge of the goings-on of same meeting, he ventured to speculate that, and I quote, “members of the executive realised they had made the wrong choice for leadership!”

He went on to accuse the Nationalist Party (still not even one and a half years on the Opposition benches) with arrogance and attempted to bring to a confrontation what he terms as the PN ancient regime against the new one.

So many misconstrued issues there that I struggle to find a starting point for my argument.

This was an internal meeting, the agenda of which should not be for public consumption. Having said that, however, I have no difficulty in addressing the points raised in Spiteri’s article.

Before I do so, let me clarify that, as a PN councillor, I endorsed Simon Busuttil’s nomination for PN deputy leader and, subsequently, for party leader. I have always believed that Busuttil is the right man for the job and I stand by my decision not out of pride or obstinacy but because I am genuinely convinced that he can turn my party around and that he will succeed in fulfilling the aspirations that we have for the PN.

Did my vote of confidence in him carry a friendly word of advice that he was taking on a Herculean task? Yes.

Was he daunted by this? If he was, he certainly did not show it and selflessly dedicated himself to the arduous task ahead.

Spiteri is wrong in saying that members of the executive “called for a complete makeover of the man”. I regret to say that his sources have misinformed him or that, maybe, he is trying to read a tad too much into what is going on within the party.

The fact of the matter is that this executive committee was justifiably convened to discuss the MEP election result and, as one would naturally expect, members were given a wide latitude to express themselves.

Any election brings with it a number of expectations. Despite the glaringly obvious inability of the PN to be able to secure an advantage in votes in such a short period of time, hard-working councillors and activists were hopeful also in this regard. The result only confirmed that re-inventing the PN with a new leadership team and new internal structures could not possibly yield results within one year. In this sense, this electoral test came too early.

In his article, Spiteri also calls repeatedly for apologies by the PN to the country for mistakes allegedly made. I would not have gone down this road had he not prompted me but did he and his government in the 1980s and 1990s (when he also served as a Labour Party Cabinet minister) apologise in full for all the mistakes made during this time? I think not and, anyway, I thought the PL was nowadays all about looking forward and forgetting the past.

At any rate, I believe that the PN has repeatedly made it amply clear that it had accepted the 2013 general election result with humility. More humble pie was in order following the latest result.

What the Maltese and Gozitan electorate wish for is for a more mature and responsible attitude in local politics

In the words of Margaret Thatcher upon being confirmed as prime minister, “There is now work to be done”.

The PN acknowledges the result of the MEP election with a great sense of responsibility. Having the PL spin machine and Labour apologists constantly accosting Busuttil will not make PN councillors doubt their choice of leadership. That is what the PL wishes for.

What the Maltese and Gozitan electorate wish for is for a more mature and responsible attitude in local politics.

Witch-hunting the PN leadership at such trying times is simply childish and downright immoral.

A recollection of the four-week demonisation of Busuttil during the latest campaign should make people like Spiteri reflect more profoundly on negative campaigning.

The PN certainly faces many challenges ahead and we are all determined to face these together. Understanding the reasons for lack of credibility is a must and if, as suggested by Spiteri, this is difficult for the ‘old regime’, then we will collectively work to ensure that comprehension is followed by acceptance and then by closure.

We will be working as one team, with no division in regimes to ensure that the PN is ready to face its next electoral test.

We will earn the people’s respect with our vision of Malta Aħjar, a better Malta, and then let the electorate judge us once again. We owe this not only to the party but to the country we have always faithfully served!

info@carolinegalea.com

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