Tesserati:  Well done to the PN for getting the Tesserati involved in the choice of their leadership.  Whilst the campaign went on forever it is indeed good that important decisions are taken by the largest group of people possible.

Leadership: The fact that Dr Delia is the new PN leader is a relatively novel reality.  Having a leader of one of the largest political parties in Malta who has never had a formal role in the PN is indeed interesting and one needs to see how this will impact on the political continuum.  It might bring in some unexpected contributors to the fold.

Lawyers: Once again, the PN will be led by a lawyer.  Somehow this party is still dominated by this profession, a tradition that has been dyed-in-the-wool.

Saint Aloysious College: Yet, again the PN will have a Saint Aloysius College alumni as Kap.  It is fascinating how this school keeps producing so many leaders, and not only for the Nationalist Party. 

PD: It appears that the relationship with the PD will end before it has really begun.  I cannot see Hon. Dr Marlene Farrugia MP capable of cohabiting with the PN considering she stated on her Facebook Page that, "If the members choose Delia, they will be destroying the Opposition and burying the PN..." The way the situation panned out, the PD now has attained its target of being elected in Parliament and it will have 5 whole years to establish itself.

Bridge Building:  Dr Delia has a great deal of bridge building he has to do with his Parliamentary Group. It will be interesting to see how the MPs, especially a couple who were very vociferous will respond to this new leadership style.  Some MPs are already being seen circulating close to Delia like scavengers.

Relationship:  It is a known secret that the Prime Minister and the former Leader of the Opposition have had a riotous, if any at all, relationship.  They just couldn't see eye-to-eye.  It will be interesting to observe how the rapport between the Leader of the PN and the Prime Minister will mature. The truth of the matter is that there are a number of formal constitutional duties and other important moments that require that these two people work together or as a minimum talk through the matters.  Adversary yes, enemies no.

Hon. Dr Simon Busuttil MP:  The outgoing Leader of the Opposition, Dr Simon Busuttil has been showered with praise on Friday night at the opening of the Party Convention.  I saw most of the speeches during the Convention some fittingly based on reason.  However, I must say that whilst I have a lot of sympathy for Dr Busuttil, even because he was an exceptional MEP, if election results are anything to go by he has failed hugely as Leader of the Opposition.  I think some of the eulogies made where simply ludicrous and preposterous. I am sorry to say but I don't think there is much to celebrate in Dr Busuttil's term of office.  Unfortunately, in politics, you are as good as your last victory - and there wasn't even one in four and a half years!  The fact that he talked values and morals were what he was supposed to do and kudos to him for doing that, but other than that he was the mastermind of the rout, his tactics failed, his message didn't come through, the Opposition lost two seats in Parliament to the PD and the Party followers were left dazed and confused.  To me this only reads as failure, sorry.  The final speech of Dr Busuttil sounded victorious and triumphant and he was on the verge of reproaching the electorate as if it was their fault that they did not understand him.  That was the quintessence of pitiful.   Oh, and to add the cherry on the cake, circuitously pronouncing himself in favour of one candidate over another in the midst of an election for his replacement was another example of poor judgement.  As a final point, much as he has a right to maintain his seat in Parliament, the greatness of his leadership would have been in evidence if he had to resign from Parliament to avoid getting into Delia's way.  Retaining his role in Parliament is a dangerous pronouncement especially now that Delia needs to pick up the pieces after such a beleaguered election for the Leader.   

Unknown Quantity:  The fact that Dr Delia is a new element in politics has the potential to give an edge to the strategy of the PN.  An unknown quantity is always a worrying situation for 'your' adversaries.  Having said that I am sorry for Dr Chris Said who was a very competent Social Policy Minister in the Gonzi Cabinet.  I believe it would be the wrong decision if he had to fade into oblivion.  Some seasoned politicians are what Delia needs around him at the moment.  

Ballot:  Many are saying that the PN will not manage to make up the 40k deficit.  This is a dangerous thought if it had to creep into the mindset of the Labour Party.  If there is anything I have learnt over these years is that every election has its own narrative, its own scenario, its own protagonists and its own incidences. That is why Dr Muscat is such a successful leader because he has managed to win two general elections with two very different dynamics and contexts by reading the signs.  Consequently, that means that Delia can win the forthcoming election if he finds the right recipe.

Moral High Ground:  What bothered me most in this campaign is the moral high ground of some members of the Nationalist Party. Politics has changed, it's about ideas, vision, management of resources, imagery, communicating - mishmash of elements.  Infantilising politics by claiming that the fact that we are demokristjani will simply keep them on that side of the House.

Prof. Andrew Azzopardi

Dean, Faculty for Social Wellbeing,

University of Malta

&

Broadcaster - Ghandi xi Nghid 

W: www.andrewazzopardi.org

 

T: @Azzopardi70