What the Sunday newspapers say about Lawrence Gonzi’s victory

MaltaToday runs the headline 'Joyful, triumphant but in denial' and in its editorial commentary it asks what yesterday's result has really achieved: has Gonzi's overwhelming victory brought his political crisis to an end or does it mean that the stalemate remains?

The leadership contest was all about putting pressure on rebel MP Franco Debono to toe the party line and guarantee the government's majority in parliament. However, the crisis should have been resolved in parliament and not within the party, MaltaToday's editorial adds.

Yesterday's result also fortified Gonzi's authority, entrenching the 'GonziPN' leitmotif as it were. But the newspaper's leader asks whether the PN is now in a position to serenly go for an election, and whether the party's confidence in Lawrence Gonzi has indeed strengthened the party's national standing. "Only a parliamentary volte-face by Franco Debono will pave the way for Gonzi to keep soldiering on in time to see the government's projects completed, evidencing the tangible results achieved in the last three and a half years."

The editorial commentary also underlines the significance of the decision by PN backbenchers Jesmond Mugliett and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando not to collect their voting document and cast their vote. This could indicate that Gonzi's internal problems are far from over.

Sunday newspaper Illum carries the headline 'A victory that brings further problems'. In  its editorial the newspaper notes that Lawrence Gonzi's victory does not mean that Franco Debono is now back in the fold.

Illum explains that the political crisis should have been resolved by an early election. It adds that the Prime Minister chose to resolve the problem by "giving an impression that he is addressing the problem in the wrong structure."

Illum's leader contends that the real obstacle is in parliament, where the government needs to overcome the problems within its own parliamentary group. It urges Lawrence Gonzi to explain how he intends to solve the problem in Parliament tomorrow because "after all he was elected as Prime Minister by the whole country and not by the PN councillors."

The Nationalist Party newspaper Il-Mument carries the headline 'A strong vote for Lawrence Gonzi' and reports that the PN leader gained 96.5% of votes cast. It reports Gonzi's speech held after the result was announced in which the Prime Minister said that the PN is" one united family determined to be of service for the country's wellbeing."

The Sunday Times says yesterday's vote was a strong wave of support for Lawrence Gonzi and notes that the result increases "his level of support within the party." The newspaper also reports Gonzi's speech and gives an account of the voting results. It also explains that the persons who failed to pick up the voting documents for yesterday's election include PN backbenchers Jesmond Mugliett and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, EU commissioner John Dalli and former PN president Frank Portelli.

The Malta Independent says that "Gonzi reasserts his authority at PN" and in its editorial asks "where do we go from here?" It remarks that Gonzi now expects the unconditional support of the whole party and adds that the numerical problem in Parliament remains "unresolved". The Malta Independent says that Franco Debono has not been brought back in line and casts doubts whether the rebel MP will end his crusade.

Labour Party organ KullHadd remarks that after playing alone at home, Lawrence Gonzi now needs to play "away" in Parliament. It adds that Gonzi chose to go for a "show of force" by calling for a leadership contest within the party but the real test lies in Parliament. KullHadd adds that Gonzi entered the leadership contest with one rebel MP causing problems but has come out of it facing further dissent from Mugliett, Pullicino Orlando and Dalli.

General Workers Union newspaper It-Torca says that the worst is not over for Lawrence Gonzi and reports that the Prime Minister who stood alone for the contest now faces further internal dissent.