Nationalist Party councillors should rise above the individual political programmes and choose the next leader on the basis of their personal qualities, according to leadership contender Simon Busuttil.
Whom would you rather entrust the PN and its rich history to?
“Since all our political programmes are similar, councillors have to base their decision on our qualities, track record and the way we communicate,” he said during a press conference to close off his leadership campaign.
“They have to ask themselves: ‘Whom would you rather entrust the PN and its rich history to, and whom would you rather see in a debate with (Labour leader) Joseph Muscat?”
He promised his “unconditional loyalty” to the person who is chosen for the post.
Tomorrow, the party’s 900 councillors will choose the new leader to replace Lawrence Gonzi.
He said that during his campaign he had met the majority of councillors and listened to their suggestions and aspirations.
Based on these meetings, if elected he would set up five commissions, two of which permanent.
His first priority would be the setting up of a commission to analyse the party’s financial situation and that of its companies, with the aim of lifting it out of the dark financial hole it has fallen into.
The commission will come up with recommendations on how to address the situation.
Dr Busuttil said this issue was of utmost concern for councillors.
The second commission would revise the party’s statute following an outreach with members at club and district level.
The third commission, which would be a permanent one, would choose election candidates well ahead of the election and look into the political behaviour of anyone representing the party. Also permanent would be a college of former MPs and candidates so no one’s potential is lost.
Dr Busuttil said the PN needed to be in sync with society and was therefore suggesting a commission made of up experts to give a sociological snapshot of society. This would be fundamental in drafting new policies, he said.
Councillors, he said, wanted a party with an open door policy, where one would feel welcome, with headquarters that was “not a house but a home” and where the grassroots were involved more than ever in the creation of policies.
Asked whether he had met PN employees over the financial situation, being the second month in a row that they have not been paid their salaries on time, Dr Busuttil said he had only met the newsroom. He was reluctant to call a staff meeting because it could have been “misinterpreted”.
He reiterated his belief that the PN had to be a “strong and constructive” Opposition basing its positions on rational arguments and inclusivity. The PN must not refrain from supporting the Government in the national interest but should also not hesitate to take strong positions to highlight its shortcomings, he said.