PN leader’s new headache as anti-Delia MP group could soon grow

Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia is facing a new headache as the number of MPs who oppose his leadership could soon grow.

Former party leader Simon Busuttil resigned a few days ago to take up his new role as secretary-general of the European People’s Party (EPP), while Marthese Portelli announced her resignation from the House on Thursday, without giving a reason.

Busuttil, often described as the leader of the faction opposing Delia, but who has never spoken out publicly against him, could be replaced by David Thake, a

vocal anti-Delia critic who has confirmed his intention to contest the by-election on the 12th district. Thake is the favourite to replace Busuttil, having obtained 126 first-count votes and 868 second-preference votes from Busuttil’s surplus.

Former St Paul’s Bay Mayor Graziella Galea is also in the running for the seat.

In 2017, Thake resigned from the St Paul’s Bay Local Council and sent a letter to the Opposition leader, in which he said: “My position as a local councillor on the PN ticket is, in my opinion, no longer tenable given my views on your suitability as leader of the PN.”

Speaking to this newsroom a few weeks ago, Thake noted that there had been a “significant shift” in the way the current Nationalist Party leadership has approached certain issues, such as corruption.

He also said that his resignation was not primarily because of Adrian Delia per se, but because of a certain group of people by whom the PN leader had been surrounded, and which has since left. He did not shower praise on Delia, however, saying: “The whole idea that when one doesn’t agree, one should leave, is incorrect.”

On the other hand, Marthese Portelli’s resignation has opened the door for businessman Ivan Bartolo to become an MP. Indeed, Bartolo seems to be next in line for the seat, followed by Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat.

Bartolo told The Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday that he is considering his options. Another possible contender, George Pullicino, said he is still to decide.

In 2018, Bartolo quit his brief to develop a business plan for the PN – a role given to him by Delia – over an apparent lack of willingness by top party officials to implement the changes he was recommending.

Last year, he fronted an initiative by party councillors to oust Delia from the party leadership. The group had collected over 200 signatures, forcing the PN leader to call a vote of confidence, which he won comfortably.

The Malta Independent reported recently that Bartolo was being touted for a top PN job, possibly the position of CEO – the creation of which the party is considering.

Party sources said that if Thake and Bartolo are elected MPs, it would spell trouble for Delia, who has struggled to reign in his parliamentary group since his election as party leader in 2017.

Leadership crisis

The PN descended into chaos last month after the publication of a MaltaToday survey showing that Delia’s trust rating has plummeted to just 13.5 per cent. Delia faced fresh calls to resign, but he stood fast, citing widespread support from the party’s paid-up members ( tesserati). It was reported that 17 PN MPs were calling for Delia to step down and that there were plans for these MPs to ask the President to remove Delia from his role as Opposition leader. This could have led to a situation where the party has two leaders: a party leader and an opposition leader – something which PN MPs said would be disastrous.

Sources said that Delia’s position could become more precarious with the appointment of former party treasurer Boris Xerri as head of the PN’s electoral commission, ELCOM. Xerri was among those who signed the petition leading to a vote of no confidence in Adrian Delia last year.

It was all smiles in a photograph of Delia, interim PN secretarygeneral Francis Zammit Dimech and Xerri taken at a Ta’ Xbiex restaurant this week, but Xerri had lashed out at Delia only a couple of weeks earlier. In a Facebook post on 8 February, he said: “Adrian Delia is justifying that he remains party leader out of loyalty to the people who voted him in. How many of those people have realised that he isn’t fit for purpose? Do not let him use you.”

Sources have also told this newsroom that Zammit Dimech is proposing Dennis Zammit to assist Xerri. Zammit was a representative of the group that advocated the vote of no confidence in Delia last year, a vote that did not pass as Delia obtained two-thirds of the preferences to stay on as leader.

Many within the party are interpreting these appointments as yet another move to render Delia’s leadership ineffective.

Delia recently lost two key allies with the resignations of secretary-general Clyde Puli and PN general council president Kristy Debono. Deputy leader for party affairs Robert Arrigo is set to leave later this month too.

Party sources said that with the loss of key allies, the appointments of people who supported a bid to oust him and the possible addition of two anti-Delia MPs, the PN leader could be facing more trouble in the months to come.