A number of PN MPs have come out in favour of party leader Adrian Delia, exposing a rift in the party as others are publicly expressing themselves against the Opposition Leader’s request, backed by the administrative council, to call on former leader Simon Busuttil to suspend himself from the parliamentary group.
On Sunday, the conclusions of the Egrant Magisterial inquiry were published, exonerating the Prime Minister and his wife Michelle of allegations regarding the opening of a company in Panama.
The Nationalist Party administrative council unanimously called on Busuttil to, in the best interests of good governance, the fight against corruption and party unity to follow the instructions given by Leader Adrian Delia to suspend himself from the parliamentary group to allow the party to fight its battles in a more effective way.
A number of PN MPs have come out backing Simon Busuttil, while others support Delia.
Among them is PN Secretary General Clyde Puli, who says that Simon Busuttil should have stepped down from the PN Parliamentary Group.
“Still on the Egrant issue, Dr Delia was correct. As the leader of a political party, Dr Busuttil had done his utmost to gain as much political mileage as possible from the allegations made then. To the extent that he practically made them his own as if he was in possession of solid evidence. Just as he had assumed responsibility for the heavy electoral defeat last year and stepped down as leader, Dr Busuttil should have also resigned now, certainly from the PN parliamentary group.
“”He says he did not want to leave because the fight against corruption and justice must continue. Indeed, it must, and he can still contribute. If he opts to remain in Parliament he can join the vociferous two-member minority in Opposition – Godfrey Farrugia and Marlene Farrugia. If he resigns from the House he can be a leading element in the ‘movement’ comprising so many ‘forces’ that have come together since Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder. As such, he will also keep the PN and its leader on their toes,” Puli wrote on Facebook.
PN General Council President Kristy Debono publicly backed Adrian Delia in statements to the press. PN Deputy Leaders Robert Arrigo and David Agius and PN Whip Robert Cutajar also supported Adrian Delia.
PN MP Mario Galea also made clear where his loyalties stand, as on Facebook he wrote that people chose Adrian Delia in the PN Leadership election. “Those who are not loyal to the leader are not loyal to the party.”
Still, on the Egrant issue, Dr Delia was correct. As the leader of a political party, Dr Busuttil had done his utmost to gain as much political mileage as possible from the allegations made then. To the extent that he practically made them his own as if he was in possession of solid evidence.
Herman Schiavone said that just as he had assumed responsibility for the heavy electoral defeat last year and stepped down as leader, Busuttil should have also resigned now, certainly from the PN parliamentary group.
Richard Muscat, a former PN MP and now a member of the PN Administrative Committee said on Facebook that while he believed that Michelle Muscat was the beneficiary of hidden funds and expected the inquiry to show as such, this turned out not to be the case as there wasn’t any evidence pointing to that. He said that the Prime Minister and his family were exonerated from any connection to Egrant. He said that when he attended the PN Administrative Committee, he had to take a difficult decision. He said he admired Simon Busuttil as a leader when he chose honest politics, but said that the inquiry conclusion blew all that he believed regarding Egrant up in smoke. He said that he was always loyal to the leader, and that he had to vote in favour of the motion to ask Busuttil to suspend himself in order to remain loyal to the truth about Egrant.