PN General Council votes for leadership election

• Delia says he will contest, stay on as MP if he loses • Next leader should be able to unite party – Chris Said

The Nationalist Party will be holding a leadership election in the coming weeks, after a vote taken last night by the General Council.

Councillors were asked whether the general convention (the party’s tesserati) should hold a vote of confidence in embattled party leader Adrian Delia or hold a leadership election. 56% chose the leadership election, while 44% preferred a confidence vote.

1509 councillor cast their vote, with a turnout of 93%.

The general council was convened after Delia, over the past few weeks, lost a confidence vote in the parliamentary group and another one in the executive committee.

Addressing a press conference soon after the result was announced, Delia re-confirmed his intention to contest the leadership race, saying he would do so with “great determination and courage.”

“I have faith in the tesserati. The decision to give the choice of party leader to the party members means that we believe in true democracy.”

Delia said he had always wanted, despite, harsh opposition, the decision to be taken by the tesserati.

“Whoever wins, the most important thing is that we show that the people will be the winners. “

He said it is important that the choice is made by the many, not by the few. “Now it is up to the tesserati to choose the destiny of this party.”

“Three years ago, they elected me to serve for an entire legislature. There were those who wanted to throw away this decision, but I am determined to serve until the end of the term.”

Delia said he will keep working for the party should the members choose another leader. “I will respect the decision and work with the new leader for the benefit of the party and the country because I truly believe in democracy.”

“If you choose me, I will bring about the changes you have been asking for. In the coming days I will be explaining this under the slogan, ‘Mod gdid b’nies godda’ (A new way, with new people.)

“You have the choice of whether this will be the party of the people or the party of the few. In the coming weeks I will be meeting with people to listen to them and explain my vision for the party and for the country.”

Delia said he wants the party to have people who truly believe in this cause, who are “willing not only to fight corruption but also hate. To govern in this way when we regain the credibility of the people.”

Asked by The Malta Independent, Delia said he would stay on as an MP should he lose the election, “and make sure that the party keeps gaining credibility and becomes an alternative government.”

Asked why he will not resign now that he has been defeated for a third time, Delia asked how he could betray the choice made by the party members. “Only the tesserati can decide who is the party leader.”

He said that, should he win the election, those who do not accept the result would not be helping the party in the elections and would “hardly deserve a place in that event.”

Those who put themselves before the party, and who base their arguments on lies and calumnies, would not be doing any good for the party.

Next leader should be able to unite the party - Said

MP Chris Said, who forms part of the group that has been trying to oust Delia, also addressed a press conference. He was flanked by fellow MP Karol Aquilina and MZPN President Joe Grech.

He said the Nationalist Party is today stronger than it was yesterday, because the general council has decided that the PN should elect “a new leader”, to bring to an end this difficult moment the party is going through.

There is no winner or loser after tonight’s vote, he said. The only winner is the Nationalist Party which has the chance to elect a new leader, one that should be able to unite and organise the party, and lead it to victory.

He said that the current leader, Adrian Delia, should take the message that was given today by the council. After losing a confidence both in the parliamentary group and the executive committee, the general council today voted against the position he supported, Said said.

Even the choice of Delia’s new slogan for the leadership race, which is “A new way with new people”, is divisive, the Gozitan MP added.

The general council’s decision is clear and will open the way for all those who are interested in being of service to the party and the country.

Said added that today’s vote was clear as 56 per cent of the councillors showed lack of confidence in Delia. He said that the current PN leader, if he loses the election, will be allowed to continue working as an MP as is his right.

The easiest way for us, Said added, was to break away from the party. But the intention was never to split the party, and it will not be in the future either. The intention behind the opposition created within the party is to save the party, strengthen it and put it in a position to win the election.

As things stand now, the party approaches an election knowing it will lose. This should not be the case. The PN should be in a position to be seen as an alternative government, Said added.

He added he was sure that in the coming days a number of valid people will come forward to contest the election.

He mentioned no names, but made it clear that he has no interest himself in the post.

After the vote of the paid-up members, we will remain loyal to the party and the country, he said.