Franco Debono said this afternoon that it was thanks to him that the government and the PN had been brought to their senses and made to realise that they needed to reconnect with the people.
Speaking to timesofmalta.com, Dr Debono said he wished to congratulate Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for his speech this morning at the PN General Council and the result of the election yesterday.
"I would have preferred it if this leadership contest was conducted within the ambit of the law on political parties and party financing, which I campaigned for, drafted and presented to parliament," he said.
"In his address this morning, it was very clear that the prime minister has acknowledged the great relevance and validity of my arguments and criticism. The prime minister acknowledged that all is not fine.
"This acknowledgement, however, comes with a certain responsibility, especially from those who are advising the prime minister, Dr Debono said.
"I hope that now that there is this awareness and acknowledgement that my criticism and arguments were valid and justified, the remedies which will be applied are the right ones.
"The declarations made this morning would be meaningless if the issues of political responsibility, the oligarchy and constitutional reforms dealing with the distribution of power among institutions are not urgently tackled," the criminal lawyer and MP said.
"If meeting the people was a nice experience, that is thanks to me, as I was the one to stand up and speak out on the need to be close to the people," Dr Debono said.
"It is very clear that the party and the government needed a reality check, and if the PN and government are coming back to their senses, it is thanks to me."
Asked what would happen from now on in his case, Dr Debono said that would depend only on what the government did.
He pointed out how, his actions so far had led to the bringing into force of the law on legal assistance to people under arrest and led to the appointment of parliamentary assistants, the separation of the ministerial portfolios of home affairs and justice and the creation of the Committee for the Codification of Laws which is drafting a Code of Administrative Law. Dr Debono chairs the committee.