Adrian Delia has refused to step down as PN Leader despite losing confidence votes in the Executive Committee and the Parliamentary Group. What is your next step?

The next step is not one which I want to decide to take on my own. I know what my vision for the party is. I want to guide the party to the road where it can reacquire people's trust, reawaken enthusiasm, so that people will return to the PN. That is the point I want to reach. In terms of the next step, as the Executive Committee did, there are now the Councillors and the tesserati (paid up members). 

I don't want to take any step unless it is one that also needs to be taken by the party organs, as happened in the Executive and in the Parliamentary Group. The Parliamentary Group had a heavy decision to take, but also had a responsibility to assure that the PN can try to stop the haemorrhage in terms of loss of votes and find a way to re-acquire people's trust.

Are you planning on challenging the President’s decision not to remove Delia as Opposition Leader in court?

We have a legal road and a political road before us. I decided that for now, at this moment, following the political road is what is important. There were two no confidence votes that brought with them heartache, and I believe that when one is faced with such heavy circumstances, that bring with them a lot of emotion, the legal road can wait.

What I want to do now is follow the whole political process with the greatest respect towards those who gave their lives to the party, to those who are still in the party and also to those who were once part of the party, left, but who hope to return.

If Delia doesn't leave, can you work with him?

Delia was offered many opportunities and chances for him to decide how he wishes to contribute to the party. I assure you that when I look at every MP, each and every one of us has our abilities, capacities and limitations. We must recognise them but also recognise how we can move forward together, all onboard to strengthen the party.

If Delia remains on, will the party split?

No. I assure you that I have no intention of splitting the party. To the contrary, my intention is to strengthen the party, unify it, bring back those who lost faith in the party and for those within the PN to become passionate and enthusiastic for the party once more.

If there ends up being a leadership race, will you contest?

This is a question that I would answer once there is a race. Right now, my role is to guide in these unique and unprecedented circumstances.

This is the time to address the pain and sadness experienced by the councillors and the paid members. Right now, that is my aim. We are speaking with them and with everyone who is willing to speak to us and explaining. While doing so, one realises that we have a common goal. We want a strong, unified party; a party that unites and brings all people together. In this we have a common ground from where to start.

Some people have argued that a number of MPs never gave Delia a chance to begin with. Were there a few MPs out on a crusade against Delia?

I look at each colleague in the Parliamentary Group and see what they each have done over the past three years. I assure you that every one of us worked so that Delia, the party, would do its job as the Opposition and be there for the people and the voters. Every time I was asked to do something I did it. Every time I was asked to advise I did, and I always did so honestly and while saying the whole truth.

The PN is lagging behind the PL significantly in the polls and has been for the past years. No matter who is leader, the PN will not win the next general election. Wouldn't it be easier to let Delia remain as leader until the election, then vote in a new leader after that? It’s late in the day for a leadership race.

I never give up. When someone tells me that we will not win the election... I do not think that I can accept that statement. Today, this decision can lead us and give the PN the opportunity to face a general election with people who are enthusiastic, people who are passionate for the party, and who have the will to take Malta forward.

Do you think the majority of councillors would vote to remove Delia or would he still have the majority?

I don't have a crystal ball, so I can't respond. What I see right now is that there needs to be a process, and that the councillors and paid members understand what is going on. This is an unprecedented situation, and so let us give them the chance to hear our explanation, for us to listen and understand them, so that we can come together.

But do you think that the PN supporters who were disillusioned with the party over the past years would, if Delia goes, be brought back?

Many people sent me messages of hope over the past few days. Will they all come back, will a few leave? My wish is that all come and that nobody leaves. This is why I want a healing process at this moment in time. I believe that when one stops and sees what is happening, they would realise that everyone wants the same thing, a strong party.

You're speaking a lot about healing, yet it is clear that within the PN there are two opposing factions that don't get along with each other. How could you heal the party when there is such a divide?

It is not true that we cannot live together. When one looks at social media, one would see black and white opposed to each other, but when sitting around a table, as we do in the Executive Committee and in the Parliamentary Group, we discuss calmly, and while occasionally we discuss very emotionally, we take decisions and move on.

That is what we must continue doing, and those especially who are leading must stop and listen, understand what people are feeling, see the councillors and paid members and then decide.

But it is not true that we are either in favour or against, that we are either A or B. The PN was always made up of many people coming from different walks of life, different lifestyles and it still is. We always managed to find a way forward together, and I believe we will do this again.

We've come to a point where the Parliamentary Group and the Executive have said Delia needs to go. This is seen as an ultimatum, how do you come back from that if he does not leave, how do you reconcile the two factions?

The two factions, whether they voted that they have faith in Delia or not, have a single aim… the good of the party. Every time we sat around a table, we always found a solution. 

So do you think that is going to be the next step, both sides coming together, rather than pushing for a general council vote?

No, I am not saying that. The question of the General Council vote is one that can be decided by the Executive, the councillors or by Adrian Delia himself. What I am saying is that no matter what the road that the councillors, paid members or Delia choose, we must arrive at unity within the party to strengthen the PN.

A main concern touted over the past years is the possibility of a PL 2/3rds majority. Are you concerned about this?

I am concerned not only about a 2/3rds majority, but even over the majority the PL has today. We need to be a strong Opposition today, and not when the PL government gets a 2/3rds majority. That is why the Parliamentary Group wants the PN, from today, to begin a new page, strengthen and unite.

How would you like the see the PN run differently?

I want to see a PN that is able to listen to the people and understand their situation, regardless of whatever their walks of life may be. I want to see a PN that is capable of uniting as it believes it can improve people's lives no matter which side they come from, that is able to provide opportunities for those who are looking for them and is capable of opening the road for all those who wish to move forward.

I want to be part of a PN that is also capable of helping those who are at a disadvantage in society. We cannot have some people move forward while others fall behind, or where instead of all moving forward at the same time, we move forward for a few.

Do you think, with Delia as leader, there is any chance of unity being achieved?

With the two votes of no confidence, that will be very difficult. Even if one looks at the way Adrian Delia built his leadership in the party, it was divisive, but this is not a judgement on Adrian Delia. If I had to pass judgement on him then I must say that he did all he could, within his capacity, for the party to move forward. Despite him doing everything he could, the surveys continue to show that those who lost their trust in the party remained that way. In the circumstance where a party can only move forward when bringing in many factions and people from different walks of life, if you do not manage to do that... if it were me, I would do the best thing for both the party and the country and see who is able to lead towards that unity.

Interview photos/Video - Mike Camilleri