All four Nationalist Party leadership candidates have had their final say before today's voting by the party's councillors on their designs for the party and the country should they make it through tonight's polling, as well as the vote by party members on 16 September.

The Malta Independent contacted all four aspiring leaders, and put five pertinent questions to the hopefuls.

Alex Perici Calascione, Chris Said and Adrian Delia have all confirmed that they will remain working for the party's best interests even if they do not succeed in their leadership bids. Frank Portelli, however, was a little more ambiguous in his replies on the matter.

Former treasure of the party Alex Perici Calascione confirmed said, "I have always placed myself at the disposition of the Party whenever and in whichever role I was asked to help. I have never before placed either personal interest and ambition or strategy above whatever the Party required and will not do so in future."

Former minster and standing Member of Parliament Chris Said remarked, "Those Nationalists who think that we can beat Labour by becoming Labour Party version 2 are wrong. That would be catastrophic for the Nationalist Party.

He said what is needed is someone with, "Integrity, the ability to do the right thing, and stand up to be counted for what is right."

On a different note Frank Portelli said, "I would remove all the 'klikkas' that exist and remind them that this is one party.  All the people who we have hurt, we need to bring back and that's a mammoth task.  I am not in denial of what we have done, unlike some other people. I see the role of a leader who inspires, and unites and who doesn't persist to make the same mistakes."

Adrian Delia said, "Since I have now embarked on this political journey, I will be at the full disposition of the party howsoever it would call upon me. Having said that, I would still be fully committed to transforming the party into once again becoming the true voice of its people."

Chris Said

1) If you don't win and become leader, where do you see yourself helping the party?

I will do my utmost to convince that the right way forward for the Nationalist Party is integrity; hard work; unity coupled with experience. Whatever the result, I shall continue to give my unconditional loyalty to the party - as I have done for the past 33 years. Never, not even for a minute, did I ever place myself, or my personal ambitions beyond the greater good of the party.

2) If you become leader, what are the three things that you will do to unite the party and prevent it from continuing to split?

The party will risk a split only if who is at the helm behaves as though he is bigger than the party. That is not my style. My style if unity. One party, different shades. I shall, from day one, reach out to the other candidates and their supporters. I want a united party. My experience in politics and the party helps me to unite the party and heal wounds quickly.

3) The Nationalist Party has always had a mission, what is the party's next cause and mission going to be?

Firstly, integrity. If we lose our reputation that will cause untold harm to the party. Secondly, a party which is closer to the people - close to their needs and aspirations. Thirdly, a formidable opposition party that is not in bed with Labour.

4) Give examples of how you will compete with Labour?

Those Nationalists who think that we can beat Labour by becoming Labour Party Version 2 are wrong. That would be catastrophic for the Nationalist Party. Integrity, the ability to do the right thing, standing up to be counted for what is right.

5) If elected, what will be the first three things you will do in your 100 days

Reintroduce the street leaders system; Working from a different locality once a week, every month; Launch a sociological study of societal changes - the party needs to become, once again an agent for change.

Alex Perici Calascione

1) If you don't win and become leader, where do you see yourself helping the party?

I have always placed myself at the disposition of the Party whenever and in whichever role I was asked to help. I have never before placed either personal interest and ambition or strategy above whatever the Party required and will not do so in future.

2) If you become leader, what are the three things that you will do to unite the party and prevent it from continuing to split?

I intend to draw on the respect that has been earned from the past and enhanced through a clear but clean campaign; Immediately set off on a policy of inclusion with my three colleagues and their collaborators take all those firm and strong decisions required to balance authority and unity right from the very start.

3) The Nationalist Party has always had a mission, what is the party's next cause and mission going to be?

The challenge starts from an in-depth process of assessing and understanding  the vast changes that have taken place in Maltese and Gozitan society since the 80s. 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 Nationalist Party must tackle the unbridled individualism which is at the very core of the current Labour administration's action plan and which will reap long-term harm to the very fabric of our society. It must also maintain its stand for  clear, transparent, accountable and good governance.

4) Give examples of how you will compete with Labour?

I am a strong believer of organisation, empowerment and vision. What I believe must be the starting point of my leadership should be the setting up of a clear strategy with clear goals, with this in place we  as a party need to start reaching out and putting people into places to be able to bridge and setup a network which would have the ability to give the proximity the party needs to be closest to the people. This is the only way the Nationalist Party can understand the aspirations and challenges of our people. We need to make relevant policies which are game changers which aspire and challenge people. At the same time we need to enhance personal contact in order to empower each and every individual and make our ideas and our vision  people's reality.

5)If elected, what will be the first three things you will do in your 100 days?

Unity is strength, I will send a strong message that when there is teamwork and collaboration things can be achieved we have an option ahead of us we move forward toward unity, or it will move apart. I need to ensure that we are clear where our north is and need to get every single individual onboard to work towards the common effort this will be achieved through, guided by our principles and values. Strong (and wherever necessary bold and decisive)  party organisational reform both at strategy level and policy level. A drive to reach-out especially to people who over the years we have failed or set aside and to those who have seen the inspirational call of the Party dwindle somewhat in their mind and hearts.

Frank Portelli

1) If you don't win and become leader, where do you see yourself helping the party?

The counsellors have a decision to make. I am offering to go back to our roots. If the counsellors decide that this is not the path they want to follow then they are telling they don't want me to lead the party.

2) If you become leader, what are the three things that you will do to unite the party and prevent it from continuing to split?

The party has many problems and after this debate and race for the leadership it is splintered and fragmented. So I would need to meet everyone and reconcile. I would remove all the 'Klikkas' that exist and remind them that this is one party and it is unacceptable that an human resources manager in the party who can go and speak out against a candidate she does not approve. All the people who we have hurt, we need to bring back and that's a mammoth task. I am not in denial of what we have done, unlike some other people. I see the role of a leader who inspires, and unites and who doesn't persist to make the same mistakes.

3) The Nationalist Party has always had a mission, what is the party's next cause and mission going to be?

That Europe will not tell us what to do. We will tell Europe what needs to be done because we are the frontier of Europe and it can't abandon us like it did with Italy, on the question of immigration. We tell Brussels, we say subsidiarity, the decision are taken by people who are affected the most. So we Malta are southern frontier of Europe so we should tell Europe what is needed. We tell them if you want to cooperate with our programmes you have to make sure that you understand what our needs are which includes not sending us contaminated eggs and dumping them on the market. Not even that they were able to control. We need to tell them that we have big issues, one being the uncontrollable immigration; human trafficking which is a crime and Europe needs to wake up and understand we are vulnerable. The Germans bombed our opera house and never gave us compensation for it. It shows an attitude, Germany will bomb tiny Malta but destroys a moment like that and it's like nothing happened. I believe in a different EU, I don't believe in an EU which is unelected, like the Commission. The EU should be about people, they lost Britain because the Commission was detached. They're all in air conditioned cars, smoking cigars, and drinking brandy. Yes for now the economy here is going well but there are people who have nothing, we also have food banks here. I cannot accept that someone can buy a car for 270,000 and a young couple can't afford an apartment. Rent is higher than minimum wage.

4) Give examples of how you will compete with Labour?

If I say something I mean it, there will be zero tolerance to corruption. I hold you to my word, I won't have a minster or chief of staff who is corrupt. If someone shows me the evidence that there's corruption he would have to leave immediately. The people want honesty not corruption. Why is there tax evasion now? Because the cabinet is corrupt. We have 60,000 people who are leaving in poverty yet we boast about the fact that we've reached a surplus. Theres a big difference between me and joseph Muscat, I won't boast about a surplus if it isn't really a surplus, of course you get a surplus if you don't spend anything on the people.

5)If elected, what will be the first three things you will do in your 100 days?

First thing I would do is ensure that there is no poverty in Malta. I would take the whole surplus I would use it to eradicate poverty. Where we have lands owned by the government I won't give them to millionaires like the White Rocks. You could house so many families if we used to land to transform it into flats and there are so many abandoned buildings. Those are the issues.

Adrian Delia

1) If you don't win and become leader, where do you see yourself helping the party?