The Nationalist Party wanted Simon Busuttil to replace Joe Saliba as its secretary general. But it just could not persuade him to leave his lucrative post as a Member of the European Parliament to move from Brussels to Pieta.

Dr Busuttil may have the intention to re-contest the same position next year, or he might have even higher ambitions, which he has so far kept close to his chest, although they are apparent to close observers. But at the end of the day what counts now is his decision not to contest for the post of PN secretary general.

When the deadline for the submission of nominations for the party administrative posts closed last Friday, only two had submitted their nomination in a bid to succeed Mr Saliba – Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier and newly-elected MP Charlo Bonnici.

Dr Borg Olivier’s name had been mentioned for quite a while, along with that of others who ultimately chose to stay away. Mr Bonnici’s nomination was perhaps a surprise to many.

It is probably not what the party top officials wanted, but after so much pressure to try to push Dr Busuttil to consider his position, it is clear that others who may have been interested opted out because they knew they were not the party’s top choice.

This practically left two outsiders who were prepared to take on the battle, and no doubt both of them have been doing the rounds for the past days to garner enough support to clinch the position.

Whoever wins today has a tough task ahead. Replacing Joe Saliba will not be easy. Over the past years, Mr Saliba has led an administrative machine of a party that won successive elections and the European Union referendum. He was also the man responsible to see that the old dar centrali is pulled down and rebuilt in the splendour that it is today, and managed to complete the project in time before he steps down. He was also at the helm when the party media needed to be strengthened to counter that being built by the political adversaries.

There were several sceptics who did not believe in Mr Saliba. After all, he was succeeding big guns such as Louis Galea, Austin Gatt and Lawrence Gonzi as party secretary general, and there were people who did not believe he had the right capabilities.

But he proved them wrong – and the PN right – because he has left a legacy that will be hard to forget and to imitate.

Maybe in the long run Dr Borg Olivier and Mr Bonnici will also turn out to be another Joe Saliba which is, after all, what the PN hopes for. But the qualities to have a high-level secretary general are difficult to have.

He must be someone who does not seek the limelight, and yet be media-friendly. He must be someone who should not seek to please everyone and end up pleasing no-one. He must be soft-spoken when there is a need to be soft-spoken, and aggressive when there is a need to be aggressive. He must be a diplomat who is capable of uniting people who form part of the same group but seek different interests. He must be the leader’s right hand man and yet is not afraid to take decisions which might prove to be unpopular.

He must have the qualities of a political strategist, the sensitivity to reach out to those who may feel they are being neglected, and the strength to withstand the pressure that comes from all quarters. He must have political acumen and at the same time be a good manager.

A secretary general is someone who can make or break a political party.