Simon Busuttil yesterday revealed he did not intend to stand again for the Nationalist Party deputy leader’s role and said his future would be determined by the party councillors’ wishes.
“I will not be contesting the deputy leadership,” he told TVAM, though he remained non-committal when asked whether he intended to contest the post to be vacated by Lawrence Gonzi following last weekend’s election defeat.
“I think this talk of leadership is a bit early in the day as first we need to let the dust settle and reflect on what has led to this massive defeat,” he said.
Dr Busuttil was elected to the post of deputy leader just a month before the start of the electoral campaign with a record 72 per cent of votes cast by PN councillors.
Asked to respond to criticism that he should also shoulder his responsibility for the defeat as part of the PN leadership, Dr Busuttil said that while he has no problem in assuming responsibility, there is a shared responsibility among all those who occupied an important post in the PN or the government.
“I take responsibility for all my actions. There are also others who share responsibility for this result and these include whoever formed part in the last administration including ministers, parliamentary secretaries and parliamentary assistants.” He stressed that the worst thing the PN could face at the difficult juncture is to have party members pointing fingers.
Dr Busuttil said it would have been easier for him if he protected his personal interests and stayed in the sidelines during the campaign and then tried to pursue his personal ambitions when the party was at its lowest ebb.
“Instead, I chose to help when the party was already in great difficulties. I did my best and the PN councillors know that I was there in the roughest of times.”
Dr Busuttil spoke about the first days of the PL government and said that while he agreed with certain decisions, like the appointment of a Minister of Europe, other signals were “worrying”, citing in particular the appointment of Mario Cutajar – a staunch Labour militant – as the head of the civil service.