The PN extraordinary general council has approved the proposal for an amendment in the statute to allow the party to have two deputy leaders responsible for party affairs and parliamentary affairs, with a show of hands.

This proposal was made by party leader Simon Busuttil on Thursday following a day of meetings with the party executive, the parliamentary group and the administrative council, among others.

Addressing the council, Dr Busuttil said: "The party must get down to business to win back the people’s trust. It is ready to take the necessary decisions and is not afraid of change but views this as a challenge to be faced".

Tomorrow he will be taking Oath of Office as Leader of the Opposition and will announce the shadow cabinet by Tuesday. It will be a strong and constructive opposition, he said.

He pointed out the meaning of the change taking place is about speaking of the party’s leadership rather than leader. 

The decision taken was about decentralisation and to include as many views as possible for “Team PN”. The party is united to be the winning party, he added, while thanking the three people who were in the running for leadership; Mario de Marco, Francis Zammit Dimech and Raymond Bugeja.

There is a lot of work ahead and consequently nominations  for the deputy leadership posts will open tomorrow and close on Tuesday. The election will take place on 25 May, according to established plans.

A number of other changes will be taking places, including amendments to the statue for more people to be included. He believes deputies who have lost their Parliamentary seat must not lose their council vote and it must be ensured that they continue contributing to the party.

In the coming days, he will be announcing a Commission for the Revision of the Statue and the Party structures. Together with the leader, this must visit town and villages and meet all those who would like to speak to the party. It will afterwards be in a position of analysing proposals and present a report on the recommendations made by the end of July.

Another Commission will examine the party’s commercial and financial interests so as to get the party back on its feet in financial terms. He believes this to be urgent and will also be established in the coming days.

Further initiatives will take place in the coming weeks.

Emphasising that the party must be inclusive and have its doors open for all those who would like to contribute, he insisted that the door will truly be open to everyone who put the party’s interests before anything else, including personal interests – a proposal greeted by applause and shouts from councillors.

“When I say the party’s door will be open, I mean that it will also be open to young people and we will find ways for this to happen,” he said, remarking on a meeting held by the party’s young people’s movement MZPN.

In his conclusions, Dr Busuttil said the party is to be proud and councillors must feel positive that that party’s was changing challenges to opportunities; it was never afraid of change and will be taking the necessary decisions.

It will be a united party to become a winning party and is ready to be a party for people, of people and that works with people.

“Let’s roll up our sleeves and work to regain the people’s trust and make this a winning party,” he stated. 

PN secretary general Paul Borg Olivier spoke at the opening of the general council and was followed by several councilors who expressed their views in favour of the amendment.

Dr Paul Borg Olivier said that after the PN led Malta into Europe, with Dr Busuttil’s help, he now has the responsibility to lead the party back to victory. The past years were challenging and very difficult now the PN and its leader must look ahead for the next five years.

Each councilor should shoulder responsibility as if he is leader so as to share the burden.

He said the proposal of Thursday had the unanimous backing of the executive and the administration which is important as the party must be a united front. 

Mentioning all deputy leaders who had given a service to the party, he forgot to mention the late Guido de Marco, whom he said he left for last because of his sterling service.

Discussing the proposal before the party, he said the PN was always a party of vision and does not plan for elections. This amendment did not take place before because realities were different in the past. The PN is now in Opposition, must keep its structures alive and be a strong Opposition.

In the seventies, the PN was centred around the responsibility of the leader but the party felt that the administration and party structures had to have their own presidents. There needed to be wide participation from everyone.

Now too, the party is widening its structures because “a party based on leadership is not a party based on a leader”, Dr Borg Olivier said.

It is important for the party leadership to be focused on internal work as well as parliamentary duties and this is the reason for the leader’s proposal.

Among the auto criticism for the past week was that it assessing itself internally but not externally when both are important. 

The PN needs to be closer to people and at the same time, the role will not weaken other roles, including that of secretary general, which he said is one of the wheels of a motor that gives drive to the whole party.

“While not defined, the role of the leader is to give the party direction,” he said.

Consequently, the deputy leader for party affairs will assist the leader in his work related to the party’s organisation and management. Likewise, the deputy leader for parliamentary affairs will help in matters related to parliament and this new role will not impede on the role of party whip.

The proposal shows a strong sense of organisation in the party which must adjourn itself according to times. Once in government, the responsibility of the party administration falls on the secretary general and it is important that the party prepares itself for when it is in government

He therefore requested the council to approve the proposal which he described as positive, good, strong proposal which results the party will see in the future. 

Francis Zammit Dimech, who was in the running for leader, said the amendment is necessary and urgent because the party must have its leadership team by three months following the general election. This sends a message of a more inclusive party that opens itself for all available talents.

The work in Parliament poses great challenges but the amendment is more necessary for when the party is in government.

Marthese Portelli said the party must win the people’s trust once again and serve its role in the Opposition by making sure that the government’s proposals are truly in national interest. There must therefore be different focus.

Noel Galea noted that the party has lost support especially in the south of the island and having another role means additional help. There must be discussion on how to regain the support lost. Important discussion must continue.

The first test for the party will be in a year’s time with the EP elections and it is high time that the statute is amended as proposed. 

Chris Micallef felt the leadership race showed the party was united and it is working to identify the best resources. These are far from lacking and the party should be proud of this. The PN was the party to write the most important pages in the island’s history.

Young people outside the party feel it must focus once again on them so that the PN will once again be their natural home.

Christabelle Ebejer said change may be difficult to accept but this amendment must be seen in the context of realities which call for new people and new structures. It must therefore be seen as an opportunity. The party needs a strong team of people and challenge itself.

Change starts from inside, she highlighted.

Boris Anastasi felt the party did not benefit from the fact that the statue had been unchanged since 2005. He feels this should be updated every year.