The Nationalist Party is quietly gearing up for the next election, with the Prime Minister’s son heading an online initiative to attract young people and Transport Minister Austin Gatt officially enrolled as “campaign coordinator”.
The website gives users exclusive access to Paul
Paul Gonzi, Lawrence Gonzi’s youngest son, is the man behind the PN’s slick new website www.mychoice.pn, which aims to start conversations with voters, particularly youths on the islands.
Launched last week, the website invites users to sign up and begin talking to the party. After submitting their details, including e-mail address, mobile phone number and ID card number, users are given “exclusive” access to Paul Gonzi’s e-mail address.
The website says: “You now have access to us via an exclusive e-mail address which is only available to members of this community. If you have an idea or suggestion we’d love to hear from you. Go ahead and drop us a note on paul.gonzi@mychoice.pn or use the space below to write your message.”
Dr Gonzi, a lawyer who specialises in computer and communications law, was president of the University Students’ Council (KSU) in 2004.
When contacted for an interview about the website and his political involvement, he replied: “Thanks for asking but, to be honest, I currently don’t have any particular political aspirations, so I believe my interview will not be of any interest.”
Describing the site as a team effort, Dr Gonzi then said: “Please allow me to refer you to either Hon. Dr Austin Gatt, campaign coordinator, or Dr Paul Borg Olivier, secretary general, who can answer any questions regarding the site.”
Last January, PN leader Lawrence Gonzi publicly asked Dr Gatt to start planning to step down from his role as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications “later this year” so he could join the party’s electoral campaign team and lead the party to another victory.
However, with uncertainty looming over the election date, it seems Dr Gatt is splitting his time rather than stepping down as minister just yet.
Responding to questions, Dr Gatt said what he was being asked was somewhat premature, “since the election campaign starts when Parliament is dissolved”.
“All I am doing for the time being is giving some advice,” he said.
“In any case, I am more than used to working under pressure and assure you that I can take in my stride helping the secretary general run the campaign when the campaign actually starts.”