Nationalist MEP election candidate Kevin Plumpton.

Nationalist MEP election candidate Kevin Plumpton pledged allegiance to the party yesterday, a day after a post on his Facebook initiative upset the PN hierarchy.

The PN lost no time in summoning Mr Plumpton, who is also president of the youth section, after he urged his party to withdraw the judicial protest it had filed in connection with the cash-for-citizenship scheme.

Following discussions with the European Commission, the government amended the scheme to include a period of residency for applicants.

PN sources yesterday told Times of Malta that, although Mr Plumpton was free to express his opinion, he should have consulted the party before making public statements on such a sensitive issue.

“We felt that he had jumped the gun and so he was called in immediately and given a dressing down.

“He was also instructed that he should not appear in the media for the following three days. A party has rules and its members clearly have to follow them,” the sources said.

Mr Plumpton’s comments were immediately reported by the media, noting a clash with the position of the PN, which said it will only declare its stand following the publication of a legal notice.

“Mr Plumpton does not represent himself but is also a party official. That is why he was called in. The new PN leadership is very open but will not tolerate its members to use the party for their own publicity. The days of MPs and party officials acting on their own steam and for their own personal gain is over,” the sources said.

When contacted, a PN spokesman denied that Mr Plumpton was disciplined saying that “the party asked for an explanation over his actions and is satisfied with the outcome”.

Mr Plumpton immediately withdrew his Facebook post and yesterday posted a formal explanation.

Accusing the Labour Party of spinning his comments, he said he was committed to continue to work within the PN.

“My Facebook post could be interpreted as ill-timed... I want to reassure everyone that I have no issue with the PN and feel honoured to have been entrusted with the task of representing it as a candidate in the upcoming elections.”

He said he considered the issue closed and would not comment further about it.