Nationalist MP Karol Aquilina, who is also the Nationalist Party’s administrative committee president, should substantiate the claims he made that the PN will be taken over by freemasons, PN leadership contender Adrian Delia said.

Delia was reacting to a post on Facebook by Aquilina which sparked further controversy in the PN leadership race. Delia will face off against Chris Said after last Saturday’s first phase.

In reaction, Delia appealed to all his supporters not to attack anyone else, but to pass on the message that nobody is bigger than the party. It is unacceptable that supporters of different candidates are ending up attacking each other.

It is ridiculous that an MP, who Delia did not name but making an obvious reference to Aquilina, is trying to deceive party supporters by saying that the PN will be taken over by freemasons. Once these allegations were made, Aquilina should shoulder responsibility and substantiate them, Delia said.

It is natural that heated words are exchanged in such a delicate moment, but it is crucial that the PN shows a united front.

His main priority if elected leader will be to unite the party, and his first step would be to offer the hand of friendship to anyone who is supporting other candidates.

He said that in the next two weeks he will be meeting as many people as possible to explain his vision for the PN.