The Nationalist Party is set to announce its first batch of general election candidates next month, some three-and-half years before the 2018 general election, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said today.
Interviewed on Radio 101 Dr Busuttil said that the party was working hard to regain the trust of the electorate so it could not leave such a decision to the last months.
In his remarks, the PN leader laid emphasis that under his leadership the party was making a break from the past on various fronts, including by restructuring its commercial arm and overhauling the party’s political structures.
At the same time he fended off criticism that he was not being assertive enough and that the party had not changed since last year’s general election landslide defeat.
Asked whether he would heed some of the criticism from those arguing in favour of a reshuffle in the shadow cabinet, Dr Busuttil said that he would not shy away from doing so “when the time was right”.
The PN leader also said that a proposal for a more “transparent” way in the appointment of top civil service posts including that of police commissioner had been rejected by the government. At present such a decision is the sole prerogative of the government.
Commenting on the John Dalli case, the PN leader argued that the testimony given in Parliament by former police commissioner John Rizzo corroborated his claim that there had been government interference not to arraign Mr Dalli. Mr Rizzo was testifying in a case of breach of privilege instituted by the Prime Minister against Dr Busuttil.
The PN leader said that another sign of the manner in which the government was meddling with the judicial system, was the way it dragged its feet to discuss the impeachment motion against Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, who will reach retirement age this month.
Dr Farrugia Sacco’s links with the PL, and the fact that his son was a Labour candidate were among the reasons why the impeachment motion was never debated, he said.
Dr Busuttil reiterated his objection against postponing council elections, saying that these had already been scheduled. He added that such a proposal would undermine democracy.
The PN leader branded the cost cutting argument as ridiculous, arguing that next year there would still be a ballot on the spring hunting referendum.