Simon Busuttil quells speculation that he could stay on as PN Leader
Simon Busuttil yesterday evening quelled speculation that he would stay on as PN Leader, telling party activists in Gozo that the electoral result required him to step down and pave the way for a new leader.
Busuttil announced he was stepping down last week, a day after the Nationalist Party suffered a crushing defeat at the polls.
Since then there have been many calls for him to reconsider and stay on as leader.
He started off by saying that the PN had to face the election result with dignity and maturity. “The first obvious conclusion is that we have to shoulder the political responsibility, starting with me.” There were shouts of ‘No’ when he said the logical conclusion was for him to step down. “The result requires me to take this step, even if you do not want me to leave. I thank you for wanting me to stay but I have to practice what I preach.”
He went on to explain the process to elect a new party leader, telling activists that they will have an important role to play since tesserati (paid up members) will be voting to elect the new leader.
He said he will first present the rules of the election to the PN Executive. The names will be vetted by the General Council. Anyone who has been a tesserat for more than two years can apply. The council will narrow the choice down to two names.
The process should not be hurried, he explained, and will likely be concluded in September. The Malta Independent today reported that, according to the timeline being proposed, the PN might not have a new leader in place by the Independence Day celebrations.
Busuttil also said the party was looking into all credible claims of vote-buying and corrupt practices, including the dishing out of hundreds of government jobs in Gozo and the many reported cases of people who claimed illiteracy inside the polling booths.
Over the past few weeks the Gozo Ministry employed hundreds of people with the government and Gozo Channel, and this is thought to have contributed to Labour’s electoral victory on the island.
There were also several reports of people, some of who are reportedly university graduated, claimed illiteracy when voting. This means that they would have voted in front of the party representatives, confirming that they voted for Labour, supposedly in return for a favour.
Busuttil said the PN would not rush to conclusions but it was looking into all credible claims. “If there is proof of corrupt practices rest assured that we will investigate and take action on every single one of them. We will ensure that justice is carried out, even if we are fighting against a government that has no sense of justice. We will not let anyone steal votes. We have an obligation to fight corrupt practices,” he said, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Busuttil again challenged the PM to reverse the vindictive transfers that were dished out soon after the election. “If you truly believe in national unity reverse these transfers and do not repeat the practice.”
He insisted that wrongdoing was not erased by an election and hoped that the government would not put pressure on the courts, where there are three ongoing magisterial inquiries into claims of corruption and money laundering, so that that government would have its way.