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PN leadership contenders Adrian Delia and Chris Said this evening faced off in the last debate before the PN leadership election on Saturday.
Both stressed party unity, while taking digs at each other.
Dr Delia appeared to project a conciliatory tone during the hour-long discussion while Dr Said projected himself as combative, particularly as he insisted that Dr Delia should name people whom he had described as ‘the establishment’ within the PN.
Dr Delia said the establishment included the person who, from PN headquarters, had phoned people asking them not to vote for him.
Dr Said retorted by saying that the person in charge of the party machine was backing Dr Delia.
Dr Delia said he had lodged his protests before the party electoral commission for such matters to be investigated ‘quietly’ because these matters were not helpful to party unity.
The two contenders promised to reform the PN, making it more efficient and inclusive and regularly consulting the grassroots.
An early flashpoint came when Chris Said said the ‘right way’ he was promising was a throwback to the leadership election of 1977 when Eddie Fenech Adami did not try to emulate Dom Mintoff, despite his electoral victories.
The PN did not try to copy Labour, and as a result, it won successive electoral victories and changed the country.
Interjecting, Dr Delia said no one was proposing copying Labour.
Dr Said replied that it was Dr Delia himself who spoke of ‘unification’ between Labour at the PN.
Dr Delia insisted that he never used that word with regard to Labour, and Dr Said was therefore mistaken. He only spoke on unity within the PN.
Dr Said the future PN needed to be unfettered in its fight against corruption. "The PN cannot be on the defence, and must be completely unhindered as it speaks out," he said.
In a dig, Dr Said said he had been campaigning for the past five months while Dr Delia had the luxury of looking on.
Dr Delia hit back, saying that was precisely the problem. Politicians valued their work more, but it was the people ‘looking on’ who created the country’s wealth.
Dr Delia said the PN needed to fight corruption and injustice but also look ahead with ideas to raise living standards.
Young people, he said, were not attracted by negativity. They needed to be given the opportunity to hope for the future.
Dr Said said Dr Delia was using Labour terminology.
Dr Delia said no one would be impressed by such digs. Dr Said spoke of his long involvement in politics, but he, a 16-year-old he had also addressed the PN council when the young were given hope under the slogan of Xogħol, Gustizzja, Liberta.
Asked by Dr Delia whether the PN would next week condemn all personal attacks, Dr Said said the party always did so. Dr Delia disagreed. Dr Said said he had also been targeted by some of Dr Delia’s supporters.
The debate was chaired by Jes Saliba.