Said, Delia and Perici Calascione support idea of TV debates
● Portelli had warned against ‘fighting it out’ on TV
Three of contenders in the Nationalist Party leadership election support the idea of facing each other in televised debates. Chris Said, Adrian Delia and Alex Perici Calascione told The Malta Independent they had no problem with engaging in debates with their adversaries, contrary to what the fourth contender, Frank Portelli, said earlier this week.
Portelli said it was crazy for the leadership contenders to fight it out on television.
Chris Said told this newspaper that Frank Portelli is entitled to his opinion, but feels that this (the debates) would be a good occasion for people to able to have a better judgement of the contestants.
“People are going to be in a position to be able to better judge the contestants based on what they say and their position on different subjects. It could also be an opportunity for independent journalists to ask questions their own questions. Yes, I think it is another good opportunity to be able to share our message.”
He dismissed the idea that a direct debate could affect the relationship between colleagues and friends. “This is just another means of sharing our message with the people. It’s just a debate about our ideas. The people and the paid party members, and members of general councils are going to be deciding based on our experience, what we’ve achieved throughout our political career etc. They are going to be deciding more so, on what we are saying and our ideas for the future of the party and the country. Therefore it is important that we have as many opportunities as possible of which we are able to send our message and to show what we stand for.”
Alex Perici Calascione also showed support for the debates between contesting leaders in which he told this newspaper that, “in principle I am not against any opportunity for the party councillors and party members to get to know more about what each of the candidates stands for and our vision for the party and the country. Naturally the final decision is in the remit of the Electoral Commission and I also await more details of what the exact format of the proposed programmes will take.”
Adrian Delia, when asked about his stance on the notion of debates, sustained the idea and encouraged that such debates show openness.
“I see nothing wrong that these debates are carried out in order to show how open for debate we are and always have been. I hope that Frank can, with us, become involved with such debates and I encourage him to think about it again,” Delia explained.