Nationalist Party’s four leadership contenders have their final say
All four Nationalist Party leadership candidates have had their final say before today’s voting by the party’s councillors on their designs for the party and the country should they make it through tonight’s polling, as well as the vote by party members on 16 September.
The Malta Independent contacted all four aspiring leaders, and put five pertinent questions to the hopefuls.
Alex Perici Calascione, Chris Said and Adrian Delia have all confirmed that they will continue working for the party’s best interests even if they do not succeed in their leadership bids. Frank Portelli, however, was a little more ambiguous in his replies on the matter.
Former treasure of the party Alex Perici Calascione confirmed said, “I have always placed myself at the disposition of the Party whenever and in whichever role I was asked to help. I have never before placed either personal interest and ambition or strategy above whatever the Party required and will not do so in future.”
Former Minster and standing Member of Parliament Chris Said remarked: “Those Nationalists who think that we can beat Labour by becoming Labour Party Version 2 are wrong. That would be catastrophic for the Nationalist Party.
He said what is needed is someone with “integrity, the ability to do the right thing, and stand up to be counted for what is right.”
On a different note, Frank Portelli said: “I would remove all the ‘klikek’ that exist and remind them that this is one party. All the people who we have hurt, we need to bring back and that’s a mammoth task. I am not in denial about what we have done, unlike some other people. I see the role of a leader who inspires, and unites and who doesn’t persist in making the same mistakes.”
Adrian Delia said: “Since I have now embarked on this political journey, I will be at the full disposition of the party howsoever it would call upon me. Having said that, I would still be fully committed to transforming the party into once again becoming the true voice of its people.”