The Nationalist party needs to make some major changes and make amends with former members for it to regain the public’s confidence; however, recent survey results might possibly be inaccurate due to the extraordinary situation we are in currently, political commentators have told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

Recent surveys have shown that the PN has lost most of the public confidence it gained during the political crisis that took over Malta in December of last year, scoring some of the lowest ratings in its political history, and the gap between these two leading parties shows no sign of diminishing.

The Malta Independent on Sunday spoke with former PN MP Dr Franco Debono, PL Balzan Minority Leader Desmond Zammit Marmara and former il-Mument editor Victor Camilleri, who gave their insight on the current situation. This newspaper asked them what the party must do to have a fighting chance in the next election.

“This is the same gap that has existed since 2009, except that it is a bit worse and there is a very short and clear answer to it,” former PN MP Dr Debono said. “This result today is a direct consequence of the party’s short-sighted attitude by not letting people work within the party and alienating those who wanted to give their part; you have to look at the bigger picture and ask 'how did we get here?'"

Debono believes that the PN is not giving any opportunities to new faces and ideas. “In 2009, the PN lost the MEP elections by 35,000 votes for not keeping its promise to renew itself and disrespecting the electorate’s will. Not only has the party been in a downward spiral since then but, incredibly, Louis Galea, the man who lost his two seats when PN electorate wanted renewal, is back ten years down the line. To do what? To renew!”

He said that the party needs much more than the promised change in statute, adding that such a process should be led by someone younger.

 

‘Unclear’ reform

Zammit Marmara coupled this decrease in public confidence with the same confidence that PN leader Adrian Delia is failing to exude in order to attract much needed supporters. “Even the reform that Louis Galea promised is unclear, and no one really knows where it stands at the moment,” he added.

To make things worse, the lack of unity that has been reported within the PN has also caused a lot of damage, Zammit Marmara said. “Many members have left the party, which shows that there is a lack of unity among them. The PN seems to be divided into different entities, some associating themselves with the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation and Repubblika, who do not really see eye to eye with Delia and are acting autonomously.”

The smooth transmission between Joseph Muscat and Robert Abela has not done the PN any favours, either, he said.

 

Inaccurate surveys?

Victor Camilleri, however, discredited the survey results, saying that one cannot have an accurate and credible reading during a national crisis, more so an international one, since, historically, there is always a bias towards the reigning government party.

He explained that, unlike US President Donald Trump, who has been facing a lot of backlash during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PL government experienced an opposite effect as the situation was handled well but it also means that any increase in confidence is “artificial”.

Camilleri believes that, in the past weeks, the PN seems to have made strides in trying to consolidate its position as a political group and is showing a new spirit of collaboration that is being reflected in its press conferences.

 

Can the PN win an election?

This newsroom asked if the PN has any chance of winning the next election and what the party should do to at least have a fighting chance.

Debono said that the indicators are not very rosy but even a week is a long time in politics, so we cannot be sure of what might happen till then.

He believes that, apart from making room for new faces, the PN also needs to make amends with the people that it has lost along the way. “The party has this thing where, if it has experienced some differences with certain individuals, it holds that grudge for eternity. How can you? You need to build bridges.”

Zammit Marmara noted that the PN might be facing an “electoral massacre” as it is impossible to make up for the gap at this present juncture. “Even if the on-going investigations against former Cabinet members uncover something that could hurt the PL, the PM has changed and so has the Cabinet, so I don't think it will affect that much,” he concluded, while emphasising that there needs to be a change in PN leadership for things to change.

On the other hand, Camilleri believes that there are too many circumstances that could affect the votes, such as all the open inquiries and investigations. “The trend is not favourable for the PN, but two years are enough time to recover and have a fighting chance to win the election.”