The Nationalist Party’s grassroots went against the Cabinet’s wishes and elected Simon Busuttil as deputy leader, hoping he would deliver the much needed change.

Busuttil’s arguments before the election were that Tonio Fenech, the other contender, would only deliver more of the same but is Busuttil now delivering anything different from what the party was delivering before he took over? Has there really been a party turnaround? Are the grassroots effectively getting what they hoped for? Are the people out there getting what they want?

Before he was elected deputy leader, Busuttil was critical of the PN’s spin on the minimum wage, so one would have now expected that their past mistakes would not be repeated. Is this what is happening in reality?

Sadly, Busuttil forgot his earlier statements and is only delivering more of the same. The recent anonymous flier sent to civil servants is proof enough. He has some explaining to do on this. Why send an anonymous flier full of lies to vulnerable people? Why does the PN campaign rely on spreading unfounded fears? How will this contribute to a party that lost has its credibility? Has Busuttil and his machine learned anything from past mistakes?

There could be an explanation for Busuttil’s back step. He is not new to the PN party machine. He admitted that he wrote the 2008 electoral manifesto and was entrusted by Lawrence Gonzi to write the next one too. So, basically, he is part and parcel of what has been taking place all along.

Busuttil was also appointed Gonzi’s special delegate to try to bridge the gap created by the Prime Minister himself. Busuttil, both as a long-standing PN militant and as a special delegate of Gonzi, can deliver only what Gonzi has to offer and we all know what that is.

So in the coming weeks, the party machine, which is now under the direction of Busuttil, will be delivering more murky behaviour, more spinning, more spreading of fear.

Contrast that with Joseph Muscat’s vision. The Labour leader is all out for inclusion of all members of society, he wants unity and transparency. He is true to his beliefs and ready to give credit wherever it is due. This is what Malta needs. We cannot continue to live in the past.