Updated - Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris has resigned from the council and the Nationalist Party, citing lack of respect from the party.

The PN said it was surprised by his decision as the mayor had not expressed any disagreement with the party.

Dr Castaldi Paris also used to head the College of Councillors of the PN in the past.

In his resignation letter to the council secretary, Dr Castaldi Paris said his years in the council had been happy ones and his decision to quit was a painful one, but he had to step down out of a sense of responsibility and political honesty once he was not being shown respect by the party which he represented.

Dr Castaldi Paris also wrote to PN General Secretary Chris Said, saying his position within the PN was no longer tenable.

In 2011 Dr Castaldi Paris resigned from his post as president of the Nationalist Party’s College of Councillors, citing personal reasons. In 2009 he had shown an interest in contesting the post of Nationalist Party president, which was vacated by Victor Scerri after he became embroiled in a controversy over a development in Baħrija.

PN REACTION

PN general secretary Chris Said in a reaction said he was surprised by Dr Castaldi Paris’s resignation since he had had a meeting with him and the other Lija councillors a few weeks ago and Dr Castaldi Paris never complained of disrespect. Nor had he spoken as such before or since.

He had also not expressed any disagreement with the PN.

Dr Said said the PN respected the mayor’s decision tor resign. He said the PN expected all those elected on its list to work in the interests of the people and be a model of good governance.