A few days ago, when asked for my top three priorities as leader of the Nationalist Party, I replied: “Bridge-building, bridge-building, bridge-building.”
That should be the spirit guiding forward the renewed Nationalist Party – reaching out, opening our doors, a can-do approach, bringing people together, focusing on what we can agree upon, building communities, ensuring everyone is on board, organising ourselves and working hard, together, to become the strong, relevant political force this country needs.
I didn’t have to announce my candidacy for PN leader to start meeting activists, party members and councillors.
I have been doing so for years on end. But since I announced my candidacy at the end of June, my meetings have become more intense and more structured.
I am spending hours every day in the company of hard-working people who share my love for our country, discussing the future of our party, the strong Opposition we must quickly become and my plans to take the country forward. Enthusiasm is high. So are the expectations.
PN supporters know me well.
Our paths have crossed many times as I went through the party structures as mayor, parliamentary secretary, minister, secretary general and shadow minister. They know what I stand for, my work ethic, my energy and determination, and my loyalty towards the party.
They have seen me delivering change wherever I was entrusted to do so.
Yet, this election is not only of interest to party members. This is an election for a credible and strong prime minister in waiting, ready for whenever the electorate calls for change.
That’s the reason why people from all walks of life are discussing the choice facing the members of the party and why many are taking to social media to discuss the qualities they would like to see in the new PN leader.
In a nutshell here is what people should expect from me, as leader of the PN and a potential prime minister.
I’m a bridge-builder – with people of good will. Thousands of them left our party and switched allegiance in the last two general elections.
The PN is duty-bound to reach out to them, understand what pulled them away and do its utmost, through the politics of persuasion, to win them back.
I want an inclusive party – and its doors will be wide open to those who share our vision and our values, who are ready to work as part of a team for an objective that goes far beyond our personal glory.
I guarantee a pro-active Opposition. Opposing for the sake of it will get us, and the country, nowhere.
What is right and beneficial to the people will have our backing. Not only, we shall seek to better it and to come up with proposals on how to better the lives of our families.
If anyone thought it gives us any pleasure seeing our country’s reputation suffer, they’re mistaken.
On the other hand, make no mistake the gloves are off in fighting corruption, injustices and the lack of respect to the rule of law.
We will rebuild and reorganise, and while we will hold the government in check, we will always put the country first.
I want to lead a dynamic party, continuously setting the example and showing the way forward. I want a party that attracts those who are looking for a place to do serious, fresh politics, to knit the fabric of change this country needs.
As leader of the PN I am determined to see young people and community leaders joining the party and empowering them with all the support and resources they need. With me at the helm of the party I will ensure that being Nationalist will once again become a badge one wears with pride.
We will not settle for anything but the best – in our policy-making, in our approach, in all of our media products, in our look-and-feel and, most importantly, in our attitude.
Finally, as leader of the party, I will ensure that the values on which we have built this country’s most sustainable successes will remain at the heart of the party.
As leader I will ensure that the party cherishes the value of solidarity, honesty, and hard work.
We will always be guided by what is fair and will fight, tirelessly, for justice to always take its full course. Above all, as leader of the PN, I will ensure that we’ll be the party for the many and not the few.
Chris Said is a Nationalist MP