Rightly or wrongly, people pass judgment on others by using different yard sticks. Political parties are continuously under scrutiny and are even put to the test from time to time. Judgements may be built on perceptions, hearsay or media spins and nonetheless people draw their own conclusions. I am taking the liberty to put under the magnifying glass the PN. My assessment may be wrong, but it is based on what I see, hear and read.
During the past months the Nationalist Party initiated a massive restructuring process. The leadership of the party entrusted with this multifaceted task are now gradually putting flesh to the bones. This process is expected to lead to fruition later. While addressing the "now" and the "immediate" should be handled with great caution. While it is true that the past is in the books, the present should be utilised to connect the party with the future. Hopefully, great care and attention is being offered to the people who were there in thick and thin in the past.
It is no secret the party has grown out of its shoes and was limping and to some extent still is. It is only natural that at this stage many would be apprehensive and most would question certain decisions. By nature many people are very cautious. In this regard, the leadership of the party should make every effort to address these issues.
It is very encouraging that the party is managing to attract new blood. This should help the party to re-energies and face new challenges. Introducing gradually new faces and new ideas is a necessity. However, grass roots are still rumbling and this it is not because they have tried to go to sleep on an empty stomach. The rumblings are deep seated and as yet have not been properly addressed by the party. Party officials must make every effort to understand the grievances caused to people when the PN was leading the Islands. Putting people's grievances under the carpet will certainly not help.
Incidentally two recent events organised caught my attention. Both are statutory. The first, the party General Council held in Gozo. However from what I have gathered,mostly from media reports the General Council was poorly attended. This begs a number of questions. I will leave that to you to ponder why. Additionally and challenging as it may be the party must learn to listen and leave ample time to party delegates to express their views.
There again I might be wrong but my impression is that a substantial number of PN members of parliament did not show-up for the General Council in Gozo. It is becoming apparent that a number of PN members of parliament are conspicuous by their absence on most occasions. This has to stop.
The other event which merits some lines is the launch of the Forum ProfessjonistiPartitNazzjonalista. I consider education as a momentous achievement for the PN governments. This has led to thousands to room about on the University Campus and on the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology Campus. Gladly today workers can take a post in one of the value-added employment opportunities available. This is all great. But out there are others thousands of people with no skills and no qualifications. The partymust thread careful as these people are easily scared.
It has to be made clear that the introduction of this new grouping will not take the party back to the years when the party was perceived as the party for the elite - il-partittal-professjonisti. It was President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, then leader of the Opposition which had the foresight and the courage to change that image. To his credit and others the PN became the workers' party. Workers' interests should remain high on the party agenda. Divisions may be a matter of concern in an inclusive society.
In the coming days the PN will face a number of challenges which will hold the leadership of the party under the magnifying glass. A number of tests are already in the pipeline namely the PL promised gas-fired power station, the postponement of the elections of the local councils, and the reported €1.16 weekly wage increase are amongst the long list of challenges. In addressing these challenges the approach should be different but strong just the same. The adopted party's actions, re-actions and stands will earn or lose credibility to the leadership of the party.It is time for the leadership of the party to become more assertive.