Two candidates, one hot post. Mark Micallef probes the contenders for the post of Nationalist Party general secretary before Friday's election.
Charlò Bonnici
Age: 41
Profession: Human Resources Manager and MP
Status: Married with two children
What's the first thing you intend doing if elected?
Whenever you assume a new post I believe the first thing you have to do is listen and analyse the situation.
A lot of names were touted for the post. Many didn't want it. Why do you?
It is an important post and you cannot decide abruptly on something like this. I took the decision to enter the political arena a while ago and felt that at this juncture I can give something more to the party through this role.
Given that it's now an open secret that Lawrence Gonzi's first preference was Simon Busuttil, don't you feel you're second best?
No, not at all. I don't feel that this is a question of second best. Everyone has a right to have a first choice and I respect that, but I don't feel like second best. I am in politics not for my personal interest but for what is good for the party and the country.
You're an MP. If elected, do you intend relinquishing that?
I will remain an MP as others, like Lawrence Gonzi, have done before me. But in the coming years my focus, besides being a parliamentarian, will be exclusively on my role as general secretary. In a way, it's like the MPs who are appointed ministers.
Are you confident about your chances?
I'm confident that I'm doing my job with the members of the executive who will elect the next general secretary. I leave the decision up to them.
Austin Gatt organised the party machine, Lawrence Gonzi launched Net TV, Joe Saliba conceived the new headquarters and won three elections. What do you hope to achieve?
I hope there will be a project for which I will be remembered, but first I want to make a success of the post. At this stage I think it is premature to attach myself to a particular project.
What are the PN's chances of winning the next election?
If I'm elected general secretary I'll be doing my best to win the next general election.
What are the biggest challenges facing the party in this respect?
There are always challenges but the PN is in government. When in government you cannot plan long term. For instance, when you plan to fix the economy, you might be faced with a tough international climate like we have right now. It therefore becomes a challenge you have to overcome with a lot of thought, work and initiative and policies that help counterbalance it. There will be a number of these hurdles along the way but I think that the PN was always a target-oriented party and that is what makes it effective.
Paul Borg Olivier
Age: 39
Profession: Lawyer
Status: Married with one daughter
What's the first thing you intend doing if elected?
I will take stock of the situation, both from the administrative and political perspective. I believe the political side requires more commitment, so I would first write to all party sectional committees and branches in order to meet them personally in the first three months of being elected.
A lot of names were touted for the post. Many didn't want it. Why did you?
It's not going to be easy for someone to replace Joe Saliba. But for the past nine years I've been doing politics at ground zero, at community level, and that's something I can bring to the party.
Given it's now an open secret that Lawrence Gonzi's first preference was Simon Busuttil, don't you feel like you're second best?
Not at all. I feel that this first preference issue was blown out of proportion. Dr Busuttil played a crucial role in the last electoral campaign which produced a victory, so post-election it was very natural for people to start discussing and seeing who can fill in the post.
You're a mayor. If elected, do you intend relinquishing the post?
Because of the importance of the post and because I believe that the next five years will not be easy for the party, I have taken the decision to step down from the council and I will not be a candidate for the next general election.
I will renounce any co-option in Parliament if the opportunity arises while I am general secretary because I believe that I should be active in a balanced way on all the districts and that all candidates and people at grassroots level should be comfortable converging within the party.
Are you confident about your chances of being elected?
Yes.
Austin Gatt organised the party machine, Lawrence Gonzi launched Net TV, Joe Saliba conceived the new headquarters and won three elections. What do you hope to achieve?
I think we are coming into a new political cycle in which we face a society that has been transformed by the very politics that we have rendered in the past 20 years. Winning the fourth consecutive general election will only be achievable if we can open the doors of the new party headquarters to those who did not feel comfortable with us or were indifferent to us or our politics.
What are the PN's chances of winning the next election?
Good. We have a good electoral programme, a formidable leader and we're preparing for a good line-up within our administration. Remaining humble and strong are the ingredients that have made PN a party for all seasons.
What are the biggest challenges facing the party in this respect?
Delivering our politics directly to the people.