Party unity becomes main issue during second PN leadership debate
PN leadership hopefuls Chris Said, Adrian Delia, Alex Perici Calascione, and Frank Portelli faced off in a debate yesterday evening, which saw party unity take centre stage in their second and final debate before the first round of voting in the leadership elections, scheduled to take place on Saturday.
This Saturday, PN councillors will cast their vote and two of the four candidates will be eliminated from the race. It will then be up to the PN party members to vote for their favourite candidate out of the remaining two on 16 September.
A few of the candidates spoke of the importance of unifying the party after the leadership election concludes, while some also spoke of certain elements within the party working against them.
The four candidates were asked an opening question, relating to what keeps the party relevant, and how they can make it more relevant.
Chris Said said that the PN is relevant, adding that the PN has to fight the establishment of Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. “With me as leader, the agenda would be laid out by the PN and not by this clique,” he said.
He said on 17 September, he will work to bring the four PN leadership candidates together, as if they can come together, the party will strengthen and again be in a position to win.
Frank Portelli said that the party has no divine right to exist, and that it only exists if the party and politicians are relevant for the people. He said that remaining on the current road will not work.
Alex Perici Calascione said that the party was determined to keep what is good in this country, to do what needed to be done, to bring about the changes needed.
He said that his aim, if elected as leader, is to do what the party did for the country, for everything which was positive to be kept and strengthened while realising the reality and working on problems.
Adrian Delia described the PN followers as sons of patriots, people who want to better the country.
He said that Malta is not a free country, mentioning that when being tied with injustice and corruption, one is not free. He said the PN cannot be bought and cannot move for personal gain.
Alex Perici Calascione was asked about the hidden hand behind the anonymous letter recently published which levelled accusations against him.
Perici Calascione said that one of the worst ways to express oneself is through an anonymous letter. “In my professional career I have seen many people who were victims of such letters. The hand is hidden as it is an anonymous letter. The content was unfounded. The timing was obvious (due to the election).”
He asked: “Whose intention was this? He argued that he does not let anyone dictate his agenda.
Chris Said was asked about the PN’s electoral loss of Gozo, given that he was in charge of that part of the campaign.
Said explained that before the 2017 elections, surveys put the PN seven points ahead of the PL. He said that the PL then started using its power of incumbency, through promotions, transfers, etc. As an example, he said that on a beach where one cleaner was enough, there are now seven cleaners not working.
“The power of incumbency was used in Malta as well, and was a main reason why the gap between the parties was so large. If elected, I will work on a strategy so that in the coming election, the government will not be able to use this power in an abusive way. I will put the civil service and authorities under the spotlight.”
He said that Ii is the civil service and authorities who sign off on these situations. “We will ask the investigative branches like the Ombudsman to investigate. We will also take corrupt practices to Magistrates and request investigations.”
Frank Portelli was asked about his debt. “You would end up leader, a PEP, with debt that cannot put you above suspicion. Doesn’t this mean you are not an ideal candidate?”
He said that the party’s ethics committee, “that never said a sentence in favour of me, said that they have 100% trust in what I said. I entered as a shareholder into a company which was in debt. I reduced their debt by LM 1 million. Go and see our books. Our property, according to the last valuation, is worth €29 million. When the hospital is sold, and we are in negotiations, you will see that I will end up with a surplus.”
Alex Perici Calascione was about his ties to the Corinthia Group. “If Joseph Muscat puts forward a discussion on the Corinthia proposal, will you take a step back, what will you do?”
Perici Calascione said that both his and his wife’s declaration of assets were made public without him being asked to make them so. “I have nothing to hide. One of my proposals is to have a code of ethics. Through this code, everyone, from the head down, who has a potential of a conflict would not participate in that discussion.”
Adrian Delia was asked about Simon Busuttil and Jason Azzopardi, who seemingly do not want him as leader.
Delia argued that he does not read Jason Azzopardi’s comments on Facebook, but knows he made it a campaign against him and does not know why.
As for Simon Busuttil, Delia thanked Busuttil for the work he has continued to do. “I respect his opinion, but I respect the will of the councillors more.”
He said that the PN is trying to attract new people, and said that the PN he believes in always believed in democracy. He said that the party’s passion has always won over fear, and mentioned Malta joining the EU as an example.
“I have no fear of the PN remaining where it is, no fear that it will rise. I trust that our councillors are feeling this, he said while referring to energy and enthusiasm flowing through the PN.
Adrian Delia was also asked about the latest allegations, and whether he believes he would end up defending himself over the coming five years thus neutralising the PN’s message. He was also told that the majority of the parliamentary group are not backing him and whether he would have a problem uniting the party.
He said he does not think he would have a problem and does not believe the majority of MPs are the establishment. He said that a lawyer has thousands of clients who have their stories. “This is the story of a client and not mine.” He said that unless the PN wants to be cut off from reality, the party needs to pick people who are not career politicians, and who have worked with people. The world wants people with experiences, and not career politicians, he said. “People at home are not interested in how the party works, they are interested in how their life can improve. “
He said his work was to listen to people’s problems and understand them, adding that he would continue to insist on honest politics based on integrity. “On those stories, I was just a lawyer doing my work.”
Frank Portelli was asked about what he would do to persuade people to join the PN when the economy is doing so well
Portelli said that the economy isn’t doing well for everyone. He mentioned there are youths who do not earn enough to rent a flat. “There are people who government gave land on the cheap. I will be in favour of the poor.”
He said that there are 60,000 pensioners struggling to make ends meet.
Chris Said was asked how he could be different from the PN’s establishment?
Chris Said said: “I am one of many MPs in Parliament. If Parliament is the establishment then I am part of it, but for me the only establishment is that in Castille, Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and Chris Cardona.”
He said that people go to him as a lawyer and politician looking for help, and he continues to help them. He said that he wants the PN to be closer to people, with sectoral parties being the fingers of the party in the community.
He spoke of the importance of street leaders.