The Nationalist Party has faced many a daunting and seemingly unsurmountable task in its chequered 137-years of history. In most cases, the challenges faced by the Party, its structures and its faithful have been the direct consequence of developments and changes in the fabric of Maltese society.

There were the collective hopes and fears of a developing nation on the threshold of the defining decision to go down the then-unchartered course of Independence of the 1960s. Following this, we faced the determination of a people painfully aware of the dangers posed by the collapse of justice and democracy in the 1980s. Then came the challenges faced due to the urgent need for fast-track social and economic development of the 1990s, so essential to place us as far as possible on track with other countries behind which we had come to be sadly lagging. This was followed by the subsequent decade’s aspirations of a people determined to take their rightful place in Europe in spite of a strong scaremongering campaign that sought to freeze us in isolation.

Throughout all these defining moments of challenge, the Nationalist Party has faced debate; interpreted rightfully the prevailing signs of the times and taken a stand which placed it invariably and unfailingly on the right side of history.

The challenges forming in the period preceding the 2013 general election and more emphatically evidenced on that of 3 June this year, were less easily perceptible: deeper in effect and more wide-ranging in impact.

These are the changes in the very same fabric of our society. These changes, gradual at first but with a subsequent acceleration, seem to run across age groups and socio-economic sectors of the population. We may certainly debate the actual extent of these transformations in thought, priorities, levels of tolerance, standards of behaviour and ethical measure, but we certainly cannot ignore or underestimate their effect, also in the manner in which the electorate has come to reason out, albeit at varying levels of course, the way and manner of voting at election time.

This is a reality which the Nationalist Party, as all others, must study, examine, evaluate and take stock of as it looks ahead from this point onwards. This, however, I firmly believe in: we have only one way to look, and that is forward.

Whilst a process of sincere, open and in-depth assessment and interpretation of the election result is both necessary and beneficial, the current Party Leadership contest process should be all about looking ahead and not looking back; it should be much more about the future and much less about the past.

Experience is clearly a definite asset, and learn from the past we should and we must. But be conditioned by it, in actions and in thought, however, we most definitely should not and must not.

The road ahead is, to my mind, based on three essential realities:

Firstly – unity across the board within the Party should itself stem directly from the values and principles enshrined in our Statute. These very same values and principles are of universal application. By their very nature, on the one hand they foster and leave more than ample space for wide-ranging debate and lively exchange of ideas and thoughts, even of a very profound and delicate nature. These very same values and principles, on the other hand, offer the ideal framework and ultimate guarantee of coexistence and convergence. This unity is, at the end of the day, both built on and also the end result of that which brings and binds us together in the first place.

Secondly – participation that is as wide, varied and broad as possible by all who work and participate within the Party structures at all levels. The input of each individual is nothing short of precious and unique.

Thirdly – an in-depth assessment and recognition of how and what Maltese and Gozitan society is really made up of, today – not 20 or 30 years ago, but today. What are people’s aspirations? What are their needs – as they (not we) perceive them to be? What are their priorities – from the most important to the least essential? What is it that ultimately influences their thoughts and decisions – from the major life-long ones to the everyday options?

These considerations are at the very basis of the formation of relevant, actual and effective political action today.

The challenges, both those of today and those looming on the horizon, are certainly there and they are neither small nor few. At the same time, however, equally there is a characteristic undaunted determination to act: to move forward and to face these challenges in the same way as we have done so many times in the past – intelligently, loyally, courageously, steadfastly and, ultimately, with success.

 

Alex Perici Calascione is a candidate for the Nationalist Party leadership