It seems that our political parties believe that “unity” is projected by not giving people a choice. 

The word “unity” has been used as something of a convenient scapegoat by both major political party leaders in order to find an excuse to get their way, particularly in internal matters.

The latest example of this concerned the Nationalist Party’s search for a new Secretary General to replace the outgoing Michael Piccinino.  Karl Gouder was earmarked as Piccinino’s successor but he tragically passed away a couple of days after he announced his intention to run for the post.

Piccinino continued in his role for a few more months, until the contest was re-launched in recent weeks.  Three candidates came forward: Gudja local councillor and former general election candidate Stefan Caruana, Fgura local councillor and Lawrence Gonzi’s former aide Charles Bonello, and Santa Lucija local councillor and minority leader Liam Sciberras.

It appeared that the post was going to come down to an internal election – but, like magic, two candidates made way and withdrew their names from the contest, leaving just one person left in the field – in this case, Charles Bonello.

Caruana said on Wednesday last week that he had met PN leader Bernard Grech and told him that due to “developments in the last few days” he would not be contesting the election for the Secretary General post, but would do everything to help the PN win the next general election.

And as if like clockwork, the following day it was Sciberras’ turn to take to social media to announce that he too had withdrawn his candidacy for the post of Secretary General – coincidentally also after meeting with Grech.

“Today I had a very positive meeting with PN leader Bernard Grech where above all else we emphasised the importance of unity and ultimate good for the party,” Sciberras wrote.

"In the current circumstances, I felt I should withdraw my nomination for the good of the party." he added.

One wonders what these nameless “circumstances” and “developments” were that prompted two out of three candidates to suddenly, within a day of each other and after meeting with the party leader, withdraw their candidacies.

The over-riding feeling that one gets is that the party leadership simply made the choice itself – all in the name of “unity” – rather than allowing the party’s delegates to opportunity make the choice. 

Of course, this isn’t just a Nationalist Party foible.  The Labour Party are just as guilty of similar manoeuvres for their own internal elections.

One only needs to look as recently as last year, when the PL saw their leadership slate wiped practically clean (with Abela essentially being the only exception).  Every single post on offer – bar one – went uncontested, with one name coming forward for the post.

Was that because only one person was interested in each role?  Far from it.  Jason Micallef initially threw his hat in the ring for the deputy leadership role – but Abela made it plainly clear that he didn’t want Micallef in that post, telling party delegates not to “turn back the clock.”

Abela and Micallef met, and a deal was struck: Micallef would withdraw his candidacy, he’d get a new, special, internal party role, and Alex Agius Saliba would take the deputy leader post – even if it meant that the party’s whole statute had to be changed in order for him to do so.

Did it sit right with everyone? Not at all – former MEP Josianne Cutajar, who had been considering running from the post, disagreed with the move.  She ultimately decided against contesting.

"After having considered all the circumstances at length, as well as the decisions taken concerning this process, I choose to continue my commitment in favour of what I believe in a different manner," she wrote at the time.

The other deputy leadership post was also uncontested, with Ian Borg being the only person to put his name forward – despite speculation that there may have been others in Cabinet who were interested in the role.

Ironically, in the one election that did happen – that for the post of PL President – Alex Sciberras, who was seen by many as not being Abela’s preferred choice, emerged victorious with a narrow margin over Norma Saliba.

Did that mean that the party was somehow less united that before?  Far from it: Saliba still holds a significant role in the party as its head of communications, and at face value there is nothing to indicate or suggest that there is internal strife between them.

Stopping people – even if its party delegates – from having a say in how things they are a part of move forward shouldn’t be the way forward.  “Unity” as a concept isn’t embodied by people suddenly withdrawing from elections because of unnamed “circumstances” – which probably translates to something along the lines of ‘my party leader told me to.’

For how can the people believe that these parties would genuinely listen to them and their views, when their leaders are clearly too afraid too even listen to the will of their own party delegates?