Leadership aspirations ‘not part of my plans’ says MEP Simon Busuttil

The 'papable' Simon Busuttil has said ambitions to lead the Nationalist party are not part of his plans, in an interview on Reporter with Mediatoday's managing editor Saviour Balzan.

Since being appointed Lawrence Gonzi's 'special delegate' for civil society, Busuttil has become the face of the Nationalists' strategy of rapprochement with the electorate. But although the MEP has not ruled out any interest in the leadership, Busuttil says taking the party helm is not on the cards.

"It is not part of my plans... As an MEP I am privileged to represent the electorate in the European Parliament, and it is my work, which I do with much sacrifice since being awarded this new responsibility."

The 43-year-old MEP and chairman of the PN think-tank AZAD has so far led a considerable number of meetings between Gonzi and special-interest groups and lobbies, in a bid to soften criticism that the government has been distant from the electorate.

His appointment as special delegate, announced by Gonzi during an extraordinary general meeting, led to speculation on whether the MEP was being groomed for the leadership and even sparked criticism as to whether it slighted future candidates like Mario de Marco.

Busuttil was categorical about the role Gonzi's leadership played in safeguarding jobs and a decent standard of living after the financial storm that broke out in 2008.

"The government's priority soon after re-election was the enormous financial crisis, and we fared well compared to other countries thanks to Gonzi's leadership. We could have helped those whose salaries or working conditions are lower than they expected... but there was proper economic management, and people today can put their minds at rest that this government is performing well."

Busuttil played down suggestions that under Joseph Muscat, a Labour government could guarantee a successful management of the economy.

"Muscat can say all he likes that he will manage the economy any better but the truth is that he has three problems: an election is round the corner and we still don't have any of his proposals. It is extremely serious and grave that a party presents itself as an alternative government without any proposals.

"Secondly, if any his proposals drive us into a brick wall: he says will cut utility rates but not how he will finance it, which means he wants to tax us somehow. The little proposals that have slipped out are so far unfeasible."

Busuttil also laid into Muscat's choice of former ministers Karmenu Vella and Alex Sceberras Trigona to be part of his team.

"He has put former ministers of the Mintoff government on the frontline..."

But although recognising that a younger electorate may not respond to scare tactics that focus on Labour's past, Busuttil insisted that the past was no guarantee of the future under Labour. "Take Muscat, he was against EU membership eight years ago. Today it might be irrelevant, but if he made such a grave error of judgement on Europe then, how can you trust him as a prime minister now?

"Doesn't a politician have to be credible?" Busuttil asked. "I was in favour of the EU. And I still am."