Aspiring Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil plans to make the PN into a “people’s party again”, hoping to win back the voters it lost in the last general election.
I believe that we are capable of taking up the challenges that lie before us and turning them into opportunities
This was the party’s main challenge, the deputy leader said yesterday as he submitted his nomination to succeed former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the helm of the PN.
He has so far been the only person to offer himself for the leadership post since the time window for nominations opened on Tuesday. Contenders have until tomorrow to submit their names.
Two others – MP Francis Zammit Dimech and businessman Raymond Bugeja – are expected to join the race after confirming they would be running for the post.
Dr Busuttil’s nomination was seconded by PN whip David Agius, Mosta mayor Shirley Farrugia, newly-elected Nationalist MP Ryan Callus, PN administrative council president Karol Aquilina, human rights lawyer Therese Comodini Cachia, Gozitan PN member Euchar Mizzi, PN Youth Movement member Christabelle Ebejer, candidates Caroline Galea and Ingrid Brownrigg, and PN executive committee member Saviour Sciberras.
Dr Busuttil told The Times he had a plan – which he would be unveiling during a press conference today – to turn the PN into a people’s party, with a rock-solid promise to listen to people and be closer to them.
He said he had a “political programme” aimed at bringing back to the fold people the party had lost, primarily to Labour.
The Nationalist Party lost the March 9 general election to Labour by 36,000 votes – the biggest majority ever won by a political party since the 1960s.
“I have decided to contest the election for leader of the party because I believe that we are capable of taking up the challenges that lie before us and turning them into opportunities. And I want to do my part to make this happen,” Dr Busuttil said.
“People not only voted Labour into Government but they also voted us into Opposition. This means we need to give them a strong Opposition that is able to scrutinise the work of the Government and offer a viable alternative to lead this country when the people call on us to do so.
“We need to rebuild a party that is fresh, organised, dynamic, in touch with the people’s needs and ready to continually engage with them. What may have worked 10 or 20 years ago does not necessarily work today. We need to acknowledge that reality and use it as an opportunity to reform and renew the party from the bottom up,” Dr Busuttil said.
The election for leader will be held among the party’s 900 councillors during an extraordinary General Council to meet on May 4.