The Nationalist Party was Christian Democratic in values but liberal in its policies, conservative and radical when the need arose according to the matter in hand, deputy leader Tonio Borg said yesterday.
Closing the first session of the party’s general conference, Dr Borg stressed the point that over the years the party had not only been liberal but radical such as when it introduced measures removing injustices.
He said he was proud that there were diverging opinions within the party, including the issue of divorce. There were Nationalists who voted in favour and others who voted against. The party was duty bound to make its position known but everyone had a free hand to vote according to their conscience.
While the party had to respect the popular vote, it had to respect those who voted against the introduction of divorce. This was why there was a group in the PN’s parliamentary group who were working on amendments to ensure a fair.
Speeches by delegates at yesterday’s session were evident in their general call for the party to adapt its values and principles to the changing realities of today’s society, with particular reference to divorce.
Even general secretary, Paul Borg Olivier admitted this and, opening the conference, said divorce had split the party but now was the time for reconciliation.
The party had to show that it was an inclusive one where there was a place for everyone, irrespective of their beliefs.
“After the referendum result we faced a divide but we are now duty-bound to seek reconciliation and unity,” Dr Borg Olivier said as he insisted that the PN was committed towards ensuring that the people’s wishes are respected when the divorce vote is taken in Parliament.
Delegate Trevor Degiorgio, said it was not impossible for the party to strike a balance between its principles and values and people’s expectations which could be interpreted as being contrary to these principles.
Adapting principles to today’s realities did not mean changing or discarding our values, he said.
Sliema deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer said the way forward was to adapt its strong values to these new realities, where the party is a modern party where everyone feels comfortable.
Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici made a veiled call for the party to adapt to today’s changing world. He quoted Tony Blair saying that “Values do not change but times do and now we have to apply changes according to our values”.
Edwin Vassallo, known for his staunch stand against divorce, said the popular vote did not reflect what was right for the country but reflected people’s thoughts.
The true value of tolerance is when a party tells its MPs to vote according to their conscience, adding that party leader Lawerence Gonzi was the true liberal, as opposed to the Labour Party which he said told its MPs to vote in favour of the divorce Bill or else abstain.
In his speech, Dr Borg Olivier insisted that the party needs to ensure that it opens up to everyone, he said, as he highlighted the PN government’s achievements since the last general election.