GonziPN entrusted one of their own to try to shift the blame of their colossal defeat from the laps of their leader to others' within the party. The apple polisher decided to write an unreasoned article in The Times, recently, putting most of the blame on government ministers. In his blinkered frame of mind, the apologist totally omitted the leader of his party - and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi - from the equation.
Meanwhile, other GonziPN strategists fervently lobby to pin the blame on the party's general secretary. Is this because they have given up on the leader, turning their back on the idol they once acclaimed? Alternatively, is it because they would like to remain so entrenched in their closely-knit loop with Dr Gonzi as the façade?
Something tells me, however, that they are too ashamed to even mention their boss's name. It is relevant to point out that Dr Gonzi, as Prime Minister, is the one who assesses the qualities, or otherwise, of the aides he selects to assist him. Or is it? Many believe that Dr Gonzi was saddled with a few names and, being subservient in nature, could not refuse. This theory gains credibility when one considers that there are another two or three incumbents of Cabinet posts who steamroll not only over Dr Gonzi's authority but also all over the population.
On the other hand, if the Prime Minister contests this argument it would further expose him as a weak leader - one who is incapable to assemble a team of worthy assistants. He has shown he is not competent to assess properly the qualities of the men and women to manage ministerial portfolios - unless the small, but exclusive, group of people at Castille are so entrenched in the country's poor governance to such a degree that political principles have been thrown out to the wind, really and truly.
The earthquake that shook Dr Gonzi over the past weeks is the sum-total of many tremors, which created huge cracks and schisms in GonziPN.
The political inability of the man at the helm was further exposed by his choice of Simon Busuttil to spearhead the MEP election campaign. Dr Busuttil is not a strategist and less so an ideal politician. He used to impress many with his clear thinking and good analysis during the MIC crusade. However, he has lost most of his shine, especially after opting to thread in the partisan way of doing politics.
The alphabet democracy and his own egocentric way of conducting the MEP election campaign earned him a substantial first-count record but the drubbing of the party was also attributable to his bungling of the campaign. Dr Gonzi chose him and Dr Gonzi must take full responsibility for the thunderous way the PN hit the rocks. Did anyone mention Dr Gonzi's poor sense of appraisal of the proponents around him?
The GonziPN factor is most definitely a compelling reason for this massive defeat. Last year, before the general election, I had envisaged that Dr Gonzi would be chalked as the worst defeated leader, ever. Today, he cannot conceal his blushes any longer. The citizens have now given the unskilled Prime Minister a clear message to step down from the leadership of his party. The suspicious moves by GonziPN prior to the 2008 election ensured a whisker-win for the incumbents. The hijacked PN should have lost that election too, and by a big margin, were it not for the numerous conniving promises delivered to several sections of the electorate.
The PN needs to rid itself from the gang that took over during Dr Gonzi's leadership and renew itself to the party we once knew. It is not in the interest of the nation to be saddled with an arrogant and insensitive coterie at the country's helm.