After suffering such a big defeat in the last general election it was only natural for the Nationalist Party to go through a self-examination and change process. It had to examine in detail what had gone wrong but also to take the necessary steps to change people, policies, strategies and structures to ensure that it could once again be in a position to gain the electorates support.
No time was wasted. A new leader, two deputy leaders and a secretary general were elected. At the same time, a shadow cabinet was also appointed ensuring a continuous scrutiny of the government’s performance. Different reports were commissioned, among them one dealing with recommendations for the updating of the party’s statute.
Amending a statute of such a huge political organisation is no mean feat. After all, despite the aura of gloominess created by the disappointing result, the fact remains that the Nationalist Party has won all but two elections held in the past 33 years. So this party must have done something good to make its opponents sweat in the electorate challenges. The formula that was used worked for many years. This is why it is not that easy to change.
The proposed changes to the party statute make the work done by the committee chaired by my colleague Dr Francis Zammit Dimech a more remarkable one. A number of areas were tackled, including the election of the party leader that has now been opened to all party members and not just to those who form part of the general council. This should take such a process to a different level, ensuring that the future party leadership enjoys the trust of thousands of voters rather than just a few hundreds.
A number of new party sections are being proposed to see to the needs that to date were not covered by existent structures. For example, once approved, the statute will allow the party to set up new sections - A section for professionals, another one dealing with equal opportunities and so on..
When these and other amendments hopefully garner the support of the PNs General Council, we would have started a new page as a party and be in a better position to face the challenges that lie ahead. I know that that are financial issues that still need to be settled; however, I am sure that there is a serious commitment by the present leadership to deal with this effectively. If the first few months of the new party administration are anything to go by, the situation is set to improve.
In the coming months and years, the party should dedicate all its time and effort to present the party in power with a strong challenge. Unfortunately, despite all the empty promises made by Labour prior to the last general election, this government is proving to be very incompetent, insanely stubborn and arrogant. Over the past months, we have also seen how much it is prone to abusive behaviour, especially in spending public funds to reward all those that helped it win power. Such a government, who is also adamant on bulldozing over everyone, including the Opposition, needs to be challenged. It needs to be challenged not for the sake of scoring political points but in order to protect democracy.
At the same time, the party needs to transform itself into an alternative government. It will not be fazed by the fact that we have thousands of votes to recoup. We are now months into a policy-update process which is also involving stakeholders and all those who can contribute ideas and opinions. Dar Centrali has once again become a place where ideas are born and developed. Ideas which in a few years time could be translated into positive action for our country.
Charl? Bonnici is Opposition spokesperson for sustainable development, the environment and climate change.