Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi agreed yesterday that, although the bigger picture did matter, the Nationalist Party must listen to the people. He launched two initiatives to this effect.
Dr Gonzi said the people’s voice would be at the heart of the party through two measures aimed at encouraging the public to share their worries and concerns.
He was addressing party councillors who on Saturday confirmed him as party leader in a one-horse-race election in which he garnered 96.5 per cent of the votes.
He appointed Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil as a special delegate to immediately start organising structured meetings with people from various social and economic sectors.
Organised through the PN think-tank AŻAD, the meetings will serve for Dr Gonzi to listen to concerns, expectations and challenges of various sectors whether small contractors, big investors, social workers, students or factory workers.
“We will be, more than ever, the government of the people... Everyone can find a natural place in this party,” Dr Gonzi said.
Through the second initiative, being coordinated by party general secretary Paul Borg Olivier, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MPs and PN candidates will regularly meet the electorate.
The Labour Party hit out at Dr Gonzi’s double standards, saying he now wanted to listen to the people after having voted against the people’s wishes who opted for the introduction of divorce.