WATCH: Delia Rallies Paid-Up Members To ‘Defend Their Choice’ Ahead Of PN General Council Confidence Vote
Embattled PN Leader Adrian Delia has rallied the party’s paid-up members (tesserati) ahead of next week’s confidence vote within the Nationalist Party’s general council, calling on them to take control of their party’s destiny from “the hands of the few who used to control the PN”.
“The party members want to choose the destiny of their party, the want to defend their future, defend their vote, defend their choice,” he said during an interview with NET.
Attempting to make a clear distinction between his grassroots support and the “spokes in the wheels”, Delia insisted that the people were willing to come together, share ideas, and work for the party.
“People have come to me crying telling me that instead of celebrating 140 years of the Nationalist Party, we are going to have a funeral,” he claimed, describing the party’s paid-up members as “protagonists of change.”
“I believe we will come through this internal battle, we need to through the fire and come out stronger,” he said.
While saying that he welcomed the general council vote, Delia said that “strong” and “bold” decisions will need to be made, in a warning shot to his internal rivals.
“Whoever wants to work for the party will be welcomed, but those who will continue trying to damage the party will have no place here,” said.
“Do we want to put ourselves in the best position for the next general election, or do we want to remain with the same faces running the party?”
The general council vote is expected to be close with internal rivals hoping to capitalise on Delia’s inability to galvanise the electorate following his abysmal performance in the European and Local Council elections.
However, in comments given to Lovin Malta, Delia had refused to rule out going to the tesserati should he lose the vote next weekend. Delia enjoys significant support among tesserati and would hope to capitalise on his likelihood of a higher number of his loyalists turning up to the vote.
Delia did stress that political reform within the party does need to take place. This, he explained, will still appreciate the difference of opinion that has been a cornerstone of the PN but ensure that everyone is following the “same cause, the same values.”
Describing what the actual reform, which has been outsourced to Louis Galea, will entail Delia said it will look at the efficiency of party structures to ensure that they are best informed to make the correct proposals.
“It is complex and simple. It is complex because I can’t tell you what the reforms will be, but simple because they need us to take us to a point, a conclusion,” he said.
Turning to current politics, he criticised the Prime Minister for rushing through controversial legislation, such as the Fortina deal, before the summer recess in order to completely avoid discussing unfavourable deals in detail.
He focused particularly on the environment, stressing that quality of life was just as important as GDP reiterating that the country was nearing a pressure point.
Delia also launched to the defence of local environmental activists like Cami Appelgren insisting that it was important to protect people who were speaking up about issues.
“The PN will protect people who want to speak up,” Delia said, seemingly ignoring a recent episode when his own party’s faux security team intimidating journalists outside Dar Centrali.
Unsurprisingly, the topic was not discussed during the PN party media interview.
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