Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this evening that the outcome of the PN leadership election confirmed that the PN was one united family.

Speaking after he was confirmed leader with 96.5% of the vote in the contest where he was the only candidate, Dr Gonzi recalled how, when he was first elected eight years ago, he had declared his love for the country and all its people. He had promised to be of service to the country and the party.

He was pleased that the result had confirmed that the party was one family, united and determined to be of service to the country, Dr Gonzi said to applause.

This, he said, was the message he wanted to convey. Despite the criticism that was made, the PN was a family that was determined to work for the country.

The rules of democracy had been exercised, he said. This was a secret ballot where delegates were free to express themselves as they wished. He now hoped that this exercise would not go to waste, but rather, that it was seen as a golden opportunity from which they could all build for the future. After all, he said, they were all pulling at the same rope in the interests of the country.

PL SAYS PM SHOULD NOW TEST HIMSELF IN PARLIAMENT

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat in a first reaction, said that now that weeks had been wasted for the country, the least that Dr Gonzi could do was to test his position in Parliament. 

He said that the first thing Dr Gonzi should do is to bring for debate in the House next week the Opposition's private motion about the justice sector. 

Unless he did so, Dr Gonzi would be showing that the leadership contest was  just a waste of time, Dr Muscat said.