The internecine politics which are normally associated with power struggles in Central Government have made their way into the local council elections as high profile councillors have abandoned both the PL and the PN to contest as independent candidates.
In the case of the PL, a St Paul’s Bay councillor has decided to go it alone, while in the case of the PN, a former deputy mayor in Ghajnsielem was not approved by the party.
Mario Salerno – who is currently a St Paul’s Bay Labour councillor – will be contesting the next local council elections as an independent candidate, The Malta Independent has learned.
Mr Salerno had served as PL mayor of Kirkop between 2002 and 2012 but later contested the elections as a PL candidate in the locality of St Paul’s Bay during the March 2012 elections. He was elected mayor but did not complete his term, telling this newspaper that he gave up his post as mayor to allow a younger individual to take over.
Asked if any problems between the party and Mr Salerno, PL deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela said Mr Salerno willingly decided to contest the elections independently but did say that his time as Labour councillor is up. He also said there were no problems between the two sides.
Asked about his decision, Mr Salerno said: “The concept of local councils was implemented as reality 20 years ago. The time has come for candidates to put their political beliefs aside and to put the interests of the community first.”
Mr Salerno said he has no problems with the Labour Party. “It is better at a community level to have independent candidates. We have matured enough for this to happen.”
“When one works independently, people give a helping hand since they feel they won’t be taking any political side by helping out; it is a different situation when one is elected on behalf of a political party,” he said.
PN ‘sacrifices’ former deputy mayor of Ghajnsielem
In the meantime, the Nationalist Party ‘sacrificed’ the former Ghajnsielem deputy mayor, Stephen Mercieca, who is now contesting as an independent candidate.
Mr Mercieca first contested the local council elections in 1996 and was elected for six consecutive terms. Sources said the PN wanted to field a new candidate for the upcoming election, but he laid down a pre-condition to have Mr Mercieca struck off the PN’s list, in order for him to have a better chance of being elected. The sources said PN Secretary General Chris Said decided not to approve either candidate.
When asked why Mr Mercieca was not given the PN’s blessing, Dr Said pointed out that there are a number of serving mayors and councilors who are not being backed by the party this time around. “The PN is fielding 185 candidates – eight more than the PL - which holds a strong majority in localities where elections will be held. The PL, in fact, has a majority in 20 of the 34 localities.”
Dr Said pointed out that in Gozo alone, there are four serving mayors who will not be contesting the elections. “This is all part of the renewal process the party is going through, even on a local level. 88 of 185 PN candidates – over 40% - are new faces within the party.”
Dr Said said that like in many other localities, the PN is putting forward a “youthful team” in Ghajnsielem. “There were some who did not accept this and decided to contest as independent candidates, as is their right.” He also said the PN candidates are chosen by the party structures and not by him personally.