The PN has a lot of work to do - Gonzi

A visibly disappointed Lawrence Gonzi addressed the press this afternoon at the PN headquarters in Pieta, speaking in the aftermath of yesterday's local council elections in which the Nationalist Party gained 41.7% of the vote compared to Labour's resounding 55.7%.

"The most important message that comes out of the local election result is that we still have a lot of work to do on the national, local and personal levels with families," PN leader and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.

“We need to go into detail of our families' needs. Many times it takes little effort to grant people their rights which are sometimes hindered by bureaucracy,” Gonzi said.  

The Prime Minister stressed that he was disappointed with the result for three main reasons. "Firstly I am disappointed because the PN lost its majority in three localities. Secondly, although it is difficult to compare results of different elections, the PN lost 11,500 votes compared to the previous round of elections held in the same localities, and thirdly because the party decreased its share of the vote by 5%."

Although Lawrence Gonzi made it very clear that he was disappointed with the vote, he said that in his speech to the PN's General Council which two weeks ago reconfirmed him as party leader with 96.5% of the 887 votes cast, he had predicted the outcome of this election.

At the end of last month's PN General Council, Gonzi had appointed Simon Busuttil as a special delegate to coordinate meetings between the prime minister and civil society.

"The result of the local elections echoes my speech at the end of the General Council which reconfirmed me as leader, in which I prepared everyone for such a result. We need to be closer to the people than we have been so far," Gonzi said.

Asked whether the PN councillors who re-elected him as leader had actually reflected the mood of the PN voters, Gonzi said that the PN councillors "are representative and make part of the PN's network of communication" and added that the PN never won elections by coincedence but because the party "persuaded the electorate that the PN has the best policies and is the best choice for the country."

Gonzi added that his speech to the PN's general council was not only addressed to the party councillors, but to the whole country.

On the low turnout of 59,2%, the lowest ever recorded in local councils elections, Gonzi said that the sharpest drop in turnout was in traditionally PN strongholds. "This is another message to the PN. It is a call by the electorate for the party to listen to the people, understand the needs and aspirations of our families and also explain its policies better."

On the party's poor showing, Gonzi said that the electorate had sent out three clear messages, namely that local councils should be administered with greater integrity and dedication for the residents' needs, that local councils should be free from partisan politics and that mayors, councillors and everyone involved in local councils should not be arrogant.

"The electorate wants local councils to hear and take note of the people's needs and aspirations," Gonzi said.

On the loss of the PN's majorities in Safi, Qala and St Paul's Bay, Gonzi said there were various and different reasons for the losses  and one cannot pinpoint one sole reason. On St Paul's Bay he said that the party suffered from a low turnout  but this does not apply to Safi.