Former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono yesterday confirmed to The Malta Independent that her political career will end along with the current legislature but strongly denied a report claiming that she is endorsing a new Gozitan candidate who “is set to gain much of her 5,000 first count votes.”
The news that Mrs Debono will not contest the next general election was broken yesterday by GWU organ l-Orizzont which also claimed that there is “anger within the PN” after Debono was revealed to be helping new candidate Ryan Mercieca, on instructions by PN Leader Simon Busuttil.
When contacted by this paper yesterday, the popular Gozo MP, who obtained 4,751 first-count votes in the 2013 election, denied that she was helping Mr Mercieca or any other individual. “I have always worked for the Nationalist Party and I will continue to do so. I will work for the party as a whole, and not for any single candidate.”
When asked if it was true that she had met Mr Mercieca at her Nadur house, the 57-year-old politician said she met with all candidates and PN officials. She also denied having been instructed by Dr Busuttil to endorse the newly appointed candidate and encourage her voter-base to support him with their number one votes.
On the other hand, the PN Leader urged her to stay on. “Simon Busuttil actually wanted me to contest the next election as well but I told him that I had decided otherwise. I have spent the past 32 years in politics. Politics was my life, my full-time job. I am satisfied with what I have achieved for Gozo and her people. I am very proud of the long list of projects carried out in Gozo over the years and I feel that I have contributed a lot to this tiny island.”
Mrs Debono thanked Gozitans for consistently placing trust in her. “After all, we only become MPs and Ministers thanks to the people that vote for us.”
The Nationalist MP will serve until the end of the current legislature but her name will not be among the list of PN candidates next time round. However she does not exclude being involved in the party in an official role. “Nothing is set in stone and I am not expecting anything but, after all, one does not need to have an official role to give a helping hand. I believe that the PN is the best option for Malta and Gozo and I will definitely contribute in any way I can.”