The Labour Party has taken note of the internal problems within the PN, adding that this has also reached local council level

"The St Paul's Bay local council now had its second resignation in a few months, that of Robert Piscopo. His resignation as a councillor from the PN technically means that the PN lost the majority in the local council, so much so that they are losing one vote after another."

Earlier, David Thake had also resigned, however did so from the local council while Piscopo only resigned from the PN, thus becoming an Independent councillor. 

"In a locality where the lack of serious leadership was being felt,  this resignation continues to complicate the situation."

"PN Leader Adrian Delia has to assure that the trouble at the PN HQ does not continue in the localities, as citizens deserve stable local councils focused on improving the lives of the citizens in their locality."

St Paul's Bay local councillor Robert Piscopo posted the following on Facebook:

"Taking into consideration the interests of Saint Paul's Bay and with particular respect towards the people who voted for me in the last local council election, I announce that I have, in yesterday's meeting, resigned with immediate effect from my role as councillor within the Nationalist Party. I have assumed the role of an independent local council member, in the full belief that I will be better able to represent the interests of the locality."

"As most of you may already know, the present Nationalist mayor has made member collaboration virtually impossible, and this despite various attempts on my part and from other sources to redress the situation."

"With the resignation of David Thake, I was next in line to be appointed Deputy Mayor of St. Pauls Bay."

"There is no political title that can pigeonhole a strong character into sitting quietly doing nothing."

"Genuine politics is about acting what you believe in, hands on, irrespective of the title or the 'cover' which some may choose to use. That is why I believe I may be of better service acting independently from the Nationalist Party."

"I do not wish to be merely rubberstamping decisions taken solely by an individual with personal interests."

"I do not wish to be thus used with the excuse that I have to tow in to 'the Party' when in actual fact it is not the Party but simply one person."

"I wish on the other hand to be of genuine service to the community. That is why people have elected me. That is what I intend to continue doing"

PN Shadow Minister for local councils Robert Cutajar said that "We as a party are evaluating what happened yesterday." He said that in the coming hours, the PN will make their position clear and that the PN is taking the situation seriously, "Obviously the party needs a clear picture before commenting on what happened."

He said that yesterday, at the end of the meeting, Piscopo filed his resignation from the PN, and David Thake resigned completely as a councillor. "David Thake gave his reasons and we as a party thank him for his work in the local council. We will hold a by-election for that post in the coming days. The other councillor opted to resign from the party and remain independent."

St Paul's Bay council has been at a stalemate for months - Cutajar

In a press conference later this morning, Robert Cutajar addressed a press conference saying that the St Paul's Bay local council was at a stalemate for months as certain council members were failing to vote in favour of the PN majority present in the council. He said that there were two individuals, Joseph Vella and Robert Piscopo who were stalling the votes. In particular, Cutajar mentioned how during yesterday's session, Piscopo and Vella voted against measures "aimed to help the residents of the locality."

Among the measures, the council was in process of employing two new employees. "Yesterday Piscopo voted against the PN with the PL councillors. For months, now, these individuals have been asking for the resignation of Mayor Graziella Galea."

Cutajar said that he personally spoke with leader Adrian Delia and told him "no one is bigger than the party."

Cutajar, accompanied by Pierre Portelli who represents the College of Local Councils of the PN, said that the PN was meant to launch an internal consultation process on the working of the local councils. The consultation process will be discussing, among other things, the Vote 16. The PN will eventually present the consultation document to the government by end of January. 

When asked whether he was approached by Piscopo and Vella to discuss possible problems in the council, Cutajar said that he met them individually and as a council. "We discussed major issues and most of them were solved."

"We need to see that every council member is in line with the party. The priority still remains the residents."

Robert Piscopo replies

Robert Piscopo has then sent a reply to the media answering Robert Cutajar. Piscopo is asking why the party would consider this resignation as a form of threat if the issues in the council have been coming for months.

“The real issue is how can the Party take note of the problems encountered within the council when the same mayor and her father are part of the party’s executive?”

“A real leader would take in stride constructive criticism especially since it is aimed to improve a situation which in the locality of Saint Paul’s Bay is well known. The Party is made up of members. If the harmony and stability of the Party is undermined so is the leadership. Sincerely hope this will not prove to be the case.”

Graziella Galea

St Paul's Bay Mayor Graziella Galea finally spoke about the issue in the local council in a Facebook post. She said that Robert Piscopo had, from the very beginning, shown that he did not want to work with her as mayor. "This same council member has failed to attend almost half of the meetings."

She then made reference to Joseph Vella, another rebel councillor and said that he used to use inappropriate language during certain meetings. "It's a pity that there are those who look after their partisan gains before the needs of the residents."

Galea noted that a lot of council meetings had to be cancelled because of the lack of attendance.