IN THE FIRST PN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING AFTER THE ELECTION, LAWRENCE GONZI, SIMON BUSUTTIL AND AUSTIN GATT TAKE FLAK FROM MPS OVER DISASTROUS CAMPAIGN AND 'HUMILIATING' DEFEAT
Nationalist MPs are on a collision course with the Prime Minister and party leader, as ministers, former ministers and backbenchers vividly insist that the party cannot expect ‘team spirit’ when they themselves were falling victims of personal and irresponsible attacks, both before and after the elections, emanating from within the selfsame Nationalist Party itself.
The four-and-a-half hour meeting was a rowdy affair, held at Party HQ in Pieta’. starting with a focus on the questionable choice of Simon Busuttil to run the campaign – when he stood to gain from it personally as a candidate in the same election – while important key elements of the party were simply sidelined for no reason.
The majority of MPs were also livid to learn the news that Labour had just secured its four-seat majority in the European Parliament, with some describing the situation as ‘humiliating’ and ‘outright shameful’.
In his address at the same meeting, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is reported to have reiterated the statement he made last Sunday, assuming the responsibility for the defeat, and adding that it was he who wanted to focus the campaign on Europe and jobs.
Investments minister Austin Gatt also took flak from his colleagues on the water and electricity tariffs, with some taking him to task on an interview he gave last week expressing his “regret” at the way the utility bills were handled. In that interview, Austin Gatt was reported to have admitted to have made a “mistake” by introducing the tariffs as of last October rather than January, while he blamed his “party” for the delay in decision.
While Austin Gatt defended himself on this, David Agius defended him by stating that Gatt was not the sole problem that contributed to the defeat, because there were far more serious internal issues to be addressed and pinpointed for the heavy vote losses incurred by the PN.
PN Secretary General Paul Borg Olivier – who is reported to have made a “good” report about the situation, and was backed by a large number of MPs present for last night’s meeting – is reported to be covering his back from an eventual onslaught by factions loyal to party leader Lawrence Gonzi, who are reportedly running a whispering campaign for his resignation, in order to make way for the the nomination of somebody else who enjoys their backing.
A former PN employee and a former contestant for the post are reported to have internally expressed their readiness to contest for the office, should it be vacated by Borg Olivier.
The move is obvious to make Paul Borg Olivier the scapegoat of the defeat, and is being orchestrated by a group known for their close allegiance to the party leader.
The whispering campaign, which has also reached this paper, claims Paul Borg Olivier was the “undesired” man for the post and is not trusted by ‘he who runs the show’.
However, Paul Borg Olivier is apparently aware of this manoeuvering and is determined not to give in to undue pressure, or accept any blame for a defeat that was written on the wall well before he took office last year.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will not be reshuffling his Cabinet after all, and Ministers have simply been “instructed” to slow down on reforms and to focus on “taking care” of constituents throughout the rest of the legislature. In other words, it is business as usual for government, notwithstanding the severe battering received at the polls last Saturday.
According to sources, Cabinet dedicated a whole morning on Monday to discussing the shocking figures that characterised the PN’s humiliating defeat at the polls, but stopped short of taking bold decisions to address recent political decisions, such as the utility tariffs that have undoubtedly had an impact on the PN’s negative result.
With this, Lawrence Gonzi is practically ignoring the clear message sent by the electorate, which is faced by the impact of an ailing economy, where the middle-class stratum is struggling to make ends meet.
Statistics published yesterday by NSO and the Central Bank have confirmed that Malta’s economy is in clear recession, pointing out serious concerns for jobs, consumer confidence, inflation, dwindling tourism arrivals and a practical halt in orders from manufacturing.
But while the Prime Minister has chosen to ignore the devastating result, not all is rosy within the PN Parliamentary group that met last night in Tal-Pieta’ to discuss the electoral defeat.
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