Keith Micallef asked the four MPs contesting the two Nationalist Party deputy leadership elections how they propose to revive the party’s fortunes.

These questions were asked of all four candidates:

How can the Nationalist Party present itself as an alternative government when the latest survey shows Labour’s lead has nearly doubled from 40,000 to 75,000 votes? Something is very wrong. What is it and how do you propose to fix it?

Toni Bezzina

Candidate for post of deputy leader, party affairs.

“The Nationalist Party garnered over 135,000 votes at the last general election. It was not elected to government, but it still is the largest Opposition political force in the country.  This is the role it needs to reaffirm and also ensure that it performs in an appropriate fashion.

As appealing as it may seem, the populist approach of the current government will soon end its cycle. The votes it managed to achieve and the popularity it currently enjoys is unquestionable. This does not justify the institutionalised corruption and the failed State we are witnessing today. It only goes to prove what short-sighted actions leading to short-term victories can do to a nation and a young democracy such as ours.

As a party we need to rediscover our ability to fit in with the society we want to represent. We need to understand the aspirations of the diversity that makes up our nation and also have in place avenues in which to meet and propose the changes that are required. This is why I am focusing a lot on my proposal of having an open floor discussion within the party in building our political programme.

The party has in place sectoral branches and also spokespersons for various areas. They need to bridge with their sectors within civil society in order to ensure a two-way flow of ideas and proposals that will ensure the party is in sync with the needs and wants of the nation at large.”

David Agius

Candidate for post of deputy leader, parliamentary affairs.

“One of my strongest points is that I am the ‘person of the people’ and my intention is for things to stay that way. I will work to bring the people closer to the party.

I will work hard to make the party structures more professional and I will give priority to strengthen the confidence people should have in each PN official, PN councillor and MP.

I believe that as a politician and as a party we have to be sensitive to societal changes, however social responsibility will always be the ultimate value that I will hold on to. This needs to reflect in our party’s future policies and proposals.

We need to finish what we started and I look forward to attract back to the party all those that for any reason left the party.

I will endeavour, together with our party leader Adrian Delia and other party officials, to make sure that our party is the party of the people.”

Edwin Vassallo

Candidate for post of deputy leader, parliamentary affairs.

“The PN as a moral authority in our society has to win the trust of the Maltese people by convincing them that its policies are correct both morally and politically. Only by doing so will the party become relevant to our society.

Therefore it must show that it wants to listen to people’s concerns, and I consider that by moving on this trajectory, together we can start rebuilding our party. We must approach the people with attitudes which genuinely show humility and are devoid of any sense of entitlement, as though we have a divine right to government. We must avoid the twin pitfalls of being either elitists who look down on the electorate or populists who pander to the lowest denominator, as long as we win.

Our policies must not be a race to the bottom but should aim to enhance our communities. The PN must become the common home of all, where everyone finds a sense of belonging, while at the same time retain its distinct identity as a party inspired by Christian Democratic thought.

The PN must once again become the party of the people, the party of dialogue, the party that is ready to hear and understand the people, the party that accompanies the people as they travel their path in life. This can only be done if the PN in its entirety rediscovers again the enriching experience of dialogue.

‘When the party was engaged in dialogue, the party won, when the party began to reduce its dialogue with society the party started losing support, when it listened less it lost more, yet it kept closing its ears and this has resulted in more losses.’ This is what a party member said recently during a meeting with party leader Adrian Delia in Gozo. I was there and I give my word that I will do everything to address this situation.”

Robert Arrigo

Candidate for post of deputy leader, party affairs.

“These are pertinent and actual questions that people are asking. Some feel like political orphans at the moment. This moment is just a passing trend that will settle down as the New Year settles in.

Any surveys are a snap shot of an actual moment, and will look differently in one month’s time. The real surveys are only the votes in the ballot box. Surveys have also been found to be distant to the result in many instances, both in Malta and overseas.

The Nationalist Party is and will always be relevant. There is a political cycle that must be respected, and in which political parties retrench and gather strength. The internal process of renewal is but a start.

One must admit that the Labour Party has very cleverly diverted the country’s attention away from governmentand the most worrying issues, dragging Malta into a very difficult moment.

The people will always look to the Nationalist Party for long- term planning of Malta, rather than visions that look as far as the next election.

My duty will be to build on the good already achieved in these past four years, with a realistic multi-point programme, geared up to the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s voters.”