Adrian Delia: the tesserati have spoken

The quasi revolutionary wave that rocked the system and pundits alike culminated in yesterday week’s announcement that Adrian Delia’s emerged as the clear winner of the Nationalist Party’s leadership contest.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Delia won in spite of lacking equality in arms and rode solely on a popular but irreversible wave calling for ‘a new way’. The race was hotly contested and would have left a few scars here and there but Delia was wise to be magnanimous in victory. His call for unity in his very first speech shows that he clearly intends to work with all those of goodwill. Of course it takes two to tango. A veteran party grandee and a former senior cabinet member reminded that Eddie Fenech Adami himself spent his first year in office trying to establish his authority with those which were considered as old guard at the time. Change, political or not, always presents insecurities us but as Delia rightly stated in his first political address ‘let’s not be afraid’. In the final instance this will be the change that unites us.

Independence Day

Last Thursday Malta celebrated the 53rd anniversary of our Independence. This is an important landmark in the life of any nation. It’s the point when -- here I quote the best-known Declaration of Independence -- “it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them”.

The Americans went on to list their grievances against the British crown. We had a few too but we wanted our Independence Day to be a joyous celebration, a coming-of-age of a people with a long history making a legitimate claim to statehood. It remained like that despite Labour’s later attempts to make it into a day of sorrow. It took almost three decades until Labour decided to give up its war on the day.

A new political year

To the Nationalist Party the day has also traditionally marked the return to active political life after the summer break. This year things were different. The Party’s summer was particularly busy involving the election of a new Leader with the party calling on its membership to participate in the final run-off between the last two candidates.

Yes, there were mishaps. Yes, there were a few low blows traded. But that happens even in general elections which take place in a legal framework and are run by public officials. While there is always space for improvement (and lessons to be drawn), it should also be appreciated that this was an election without precedent. It was also a success in a democratic sense: despite all the talk of apathy, party members participated in large numbers for the vote.

Delia’s first mass meeting

This year’s festivities were an opportunity for Party activists and supporters to meet for the first time Adrian Delia as party leader. Delia had been met with enthusiasm wherever he went during his campaign; this time was no exception and welcome given to him this time extended beyond the people who had supported him in the campaign.

Delia did not disappoint them. Since detractors have preferred to focus on trivialities and spin them out of proportion, if not into outright lies (including that he claimed he was present at the original festivities in 1964), it’s worth highlighting the main points of his speech. He mentioned his belief in the value of life from conception to death. In the value of the family, whatever form or size, and that every family should be safeguarded from injustice and poverty.

Delia also promised institutions that actively fight corruption. He also insisted on urban development that is sustainable, planned, organised and balanced. Public opinion should be given the weight it deserves in development planning decisions. He promised a country that’s stronger and, at the same time, fairer.

The way ahead

Barely three days in his new role, Delia has been under pressure to say which MP will give up his seat for him to take on the role of Leader of Opposition (incidentally, Joseph Muscat had been given three months of grace before he made his entrance into Parliament). Discussions are ongoing. The situation is conditioned both by the byzantine electoral process the country uses and the legitimate wish of MPs to represent their constituents.

What is important, however, is not to forget that candidates stood for election under the banner of the Nationalist Party, the same Party whose members clearly expressed the wish to have Delia as leader. Ultimately, it’s their wish that has to be respected.