The next hours will be intense ones for the Nationalist Party.  A few weeks away from a general election whose result clearly showed that the party needs to renew itself and its communication methods, we, the PN councillors, will be the ones to select the new leader.  It’s not an easy decision to take. Emotions run high and might tend to hinder ones’ choice.

However, it's now time to put emotions apart and decide whose name to tick on the ballot paper. The Nationalist Party needs a leader who needs to commit practically his life not only to lead the party but also to build a team which can guarantee success.

Success in politics is only achieved by listening to the people, understanding the various needs, be able to give priority where its due and, most of all, be able to foresee climates which might be of threat or provide opportunities to the country.

I honestly think that Lawrence Gonzi managed to achieve this success.  When one considers the fabulous results, particularly at the economic front, our country has achieved in the past years, success is evident.  Attention to foreign economic news bulletins will give one a clear perspective, from which it’s easy to note that while others are facing dire economic situations and related problems, such as soaring unemployment rates, Malta still features as one of the strongest countries.

This is not an election analysis.  It’s facts.  Facts also show that the Maltese citizens, in their vast majority, wanted change and entrusted the Labour Party with this tremendous task.  I do wish the new government well, mostly because in such an economic reality we cannot afford to fail in any way.

While the chosen commission is analyzing the factors which led to such a heavy defeat for PN, it's now up to us, the councillors, to choose the new leader for our party.  Being a PN councillor means being a representative of the people.  This is why in the last weeks I have been urging those whom I represent to send me their opinion, and thus allow me to take a final decision reflecting that of the people.

PN is now calling.  The party who gave a breath of fresh air, a new dimension to Malta, now needs our help to get in shape again and regain ground with the electorate. To do this, the party needs to get on the ground and listen, attentively and effectively.

If this is not done, I’m afraid that in five years time I can reproduce this article almost word by word.  Listening and understanding is not an option, it's a must.  This leads to knowledge, and an increase in opportunities to further improve our country.

Let’s open the doors of our famous stamperija and let everyone know that PN is there, calling, waiting for suggestions, opinions, and life experiences which can be used to create a brighter future for all of us.  It’s what we did in the past, and it's what we can definitely do in the future.

Michael Mercieca

PN councillor