Gonzi sets tone for electoral campaign; JPO says election is inevitable

Updated with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's Facebook comments at 1:50pm

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi set the tone for an imminent electoral campaign by roaring the famous PN slogan "Is-sewwa jirbaħ żgur" which was the PN battle cry for many past electoral victories. Gonzi hinted the party might need some time to regroup but promised the crowd of supporters that they will soon shout together "Is-sewwa jirbaħ żgur"  when the party will ask the country to reconfirm its faith in it. 

In a clear reference to Franco Debono, who was never mentioned by name, Gonzi said his plan was to hold elections at the end of this legislature's term however it did not necessarily depend on him.

Gonzi said recent events are worrying and the people are worried that a reshuffle has caused a political crisis because "somebody wanted to become a minister. This is not the most important matter. The real issue is who can really create work and modernise the country". Gonzi asked whether it is the PL, who opposed important reforms and who believes that private enterprise cannot go forward without state intervention or the PN that should govern the country.

Gonzi said the PN has proved itself in the last 25 years and urged the people to "remember what we achieved in the last 25 years when we'll ask for the people's trust," Gonzi reminded that in 2008 he had asked the people to vote for the PN because he "returned the country to the people in better shape and stronger."

Hinting at an imminent electoral campaign Gonzi said "We will do the same this time around and ask the people to trust us with government again. We have faced many troubles in the past four years but we have always achieved records in all sectors."

"I have built upon the legacy of my predecessors, Eddie Fenech Adami and Gorg Borg Olivier and I also had the privilege to be the first Prime Minister of Malta within the European Union. In these past seven years I am proud to have seen 21,000 new jobs created in the private sector. I am proud to have seen an increase in students at university, Mcast and ITS. I am proud to have inaugurated a new school every year and a brand new hospital in my time as Prime Minister," Gonzi said.

Gonzi also said that he has tried to convince Austin Gatt to re-consider his desicion  not to contest the next elections and urged Gatt to consider giving up his ministerial seat later on in the year "to help lead the party to another electoral victory" Amid loud chants of his noisy fans Gonzi said "The PN will retain government because the country will once again choose the government it deserves."    

In reaction, PN backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said an election was inevitable and added he will vote in favour of government if a vote of confidence is called in parliament.

On his Facebook page Pullicino Orlando wrote "Lawrence Gonzi was not only democratically elected as the leader of the Nationalist Party he was also democratically elected as the Prime Minister. It does not make sense to have a leadership issue now. If the Prime Minister feels he no longer has the support of the majority of the house there is only one sensible, democratic and honourable thing to do, call an election."

In a further comment on his own page he wrote "Let me make it absolutely clear that I will vote with government if there is a confidence vote that is what my constituents expect of me."

Gonzi was  speaking at the PN club in Marsaxlokk. A big crowd was present at the PN club, in Franco Debono's constituency, in an apparent show of force to rally supporters behind the party leader.

Gonzi thanked party stalwarts Richard Muscat, Michael Refalo and Antoine Mifsud Bonnici present for the meeting and said they were examples of politicians who put the country's interests before personal interests.

Gonzi reminisced about his early days as a PN candidate and reminded the crowd of the party's 1987 maxim 'Xoghol, Gustizzja, Liberta' (Work, Justice, Liberty) and former leader Eddie Fenech Adami's trademark motto 'Inservi' (I serve). Gonzi said "The country comes first for me."

The PN leader said he wanted to convey a message of courage in these trying times. He said it is a time to verify whether all politicians within the party are ready to serve the country and the party. Gonzi said who only wants to serve his or her personal interests should "make way" and resign. He said blackmail is unacceptable.

Gonzi said that Debono's blackmail is different to the 1998 situation with Alfred Sant and Dom Mintoff. He reminded that in the 1998 crisis, Mintoff did not vote against the Labour government then led by Alfred Sant.

Gonzi said he understood that MPs have ministerial ambitions but the persons he spoke to in the last few days understood and accepted his decision to promote Parliamentary Secretaries Mario de Marco, Jason Azzopardi and Chris Said.  

Gonzi criticised opposition leader Joseph Muscat for insisting in not saying what his solutions and proposals are. The Prime Minister said Muscat has now been at the helm of Labour for four years and has had enough time to come up with and offer the solutions to the country's problems.

Also present at the debate were Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and newly appointed Tourism Minister Mario de Marco. Borg said the party is behind Lawrence Gonzi.

The presence of prospective PN candidates on the 5^th district, Hermann Schiavone and Manuel Delia was a clear signal to Franco Debono who vehemently opposed their candidature.