Following the Prime Minister’s speech to the Nationalist Party last Sunday, the time has come for those who despise Dr Lawrence Gonzi, on a political level as Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Party, to stand up and contest his leadership.

I for one have very much admired the Prime Minister’s restraint during this unnecessary political episode that was created towards the end of the current legislature.

I am writing not to defend Dr Gonzi, I am sure he needs no defending, nor because I owe him or his party anything. Indeed, I have plenty of axes to grind with a number of the party’s politicians. Allow me to explain.

When my life was being ruined by illegalities being committed by a contractor, I asked the corrupt Malta Environment and Planning Authority of the time (2004-2007) for help, but all I received was a piece of paper advising me to take court action against the contractor.

The Prime Minister and the minister responsible at the time, George Pullicino, knew about the state of affairs because I had informed them by registered letter, but still nothing happened.

I could not possibly bear the prospect of taking court action yet again in defence of my private property, when I had already been subjected to another 20-year court case with another contractor again, in defence of my private property - not to mention the amount of money I had spent on legal expenses.

In fact, when that case was in its tenth year I had approached then justice minister Austin Gatt about the sheer length of proceedings, who passed merely the buck from the government to the courts, despite being the justice minister. Shame.

Then, following the attaparsi (pretend) reform of the local councils, the government created a local council tribunal and then Parliamentary Secretary Dr Chris Said was responsible for local councils at the time. I went through the tribunal, but nothing ever happened. I wrote to Dr Said twice to ask him what was happening, but my letters were not even acknowledged. For that kind of arrogance, he was promoted to minister.

The more recent reply by Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, now the minister responsible for local councils, to journalists about the mayors and councillors charged with fraud was disgusting, and it was very strange to hear the minister say such issues were private matters.

These and others instances are symptomatic of what is destroying today’s Nationalist Party, a party built with the smell of tear gas and, in some cases, blood on the streets of Malta.

I have been saying this for years now, mostly in letter to the press which were not published, and I am truly very sorry for it. But perhaps someday, although it is too late now given the current circumstances, these home truths will be taken on board by whoever may be at the helm in the future.

Having said that, were I a PN member I would nevertheless vote for Dr Gonzi to remain on as party leader and to continue leading the country until the end of his five-year term. But, at the same time, those who harbour ‘political hatred’, and I use the phrase intentionally, should stand up and show it.

To me, political hatred is to continue bringing up the divorce vote. In my opinion, Dr Gonzi is a man of principles, and he is no hypocrite. He was not one of those who said he was not voting for divorce but, rather, for choice. He was not one of those who declared they were against divorce, yet still voted for its introduction.

Dr Gonzi and those who voted against divorce, Dr Adrian Vassallo included, are men of great principle. In my opinion the only mistake in that whole charade was when he allowed a referendum on the proposed legislation. In my view, he should have insisted that that he held no mandate from the people to do so.

Now those who pretend they do not want to serve under Lawrence Gonzi now have a chance to challenge his leadership. Dr Gonzi has said he is ready to continue to serve the country under whoever emerges victorious from the PN leadership election.

Those who will not stand up to be counted by challenging Dr Gonzi’s leadership should then stop causing possibly irreparable harm to the country and themselves. Do what you have to do, even if that means crossing the floor.

Joseph Muscat

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