MaltaToday online poll | Overwhelming majority see Simon Busuttil as PN deputy leader

Race is on between Simon Busuttil and Mario de Marco who are regarded as the most popular contenders for the post of PN deputy leader.

27 October 2012, 12:00am
by Miriam Dalli

2 min read

They have been touted to be the next PN leaders, but today Mario de Marco and Simon Busuttil might just as well be viewing the post of deputy leader following Tonio Borg's resignation.

Tonio Borg's nomination as European Commissioner has left the seat of deputy leader vacant within the Nationalist Party. The PN executive will be meeting in two days' time to nominate the electoral commission and establish a timeframe by which the new deputy leader must be elected.

According to the 2,000 respondents to a MaltaToday online poll, the Prime Minister's special envoy Simon Busuttil is the most likely to be the next PN leader, receiving the 56% support of all respondents.

Second to Busuttil, but severely lagging behind, is Culture Minister Mario de Marco, with 19%.

The readers were also asked to choose among Justice Minister Chris Said, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and parliamentary secretary Beppe Fenech Adami.

Only 10% believe that Chris Said will be made deputy leader, followed closely by Beppe Fenech Adami at 9%. On the other hand, only 98 of the respondents (5%) believe Tonio Fenech will make it.

In a March 2012 survey carried by MaltaToday on Sunday, Busuttil also emerged as the front runner to succeed Lawrence Gonzi as PN leader. Tourism Minister Mario de Marco followed in second place.

The appointment of the new deputy leader will also change the dynamics of the PN's electoral campaign. However with the PN lagging behind the Labour Party by 12 points in the polls, contenders might have second thoughts about heading the party to a possible hammering and being identified with an electoral slaughter.

The PN deputy leadership election is regulated by the same rules that apply to the election of the party leader. As in the case of the leadership election, the PN deputy leader is chosen by the party's 900-strong general council, which in the main is composed of Gonzi loyalists.

The winning candidate needs a two-thirds majority of all votes cast by the councillors. This also applies if there is only one contestant in the race.

Anyone can contest the deputy leadership election as long as the nomination is signed by 10 regular paid members, of which at least three have to be either members of the party's executive or parliamentary group. The statute does not explain whether a candidate has to be a party member or not, so in theory anyone can contest as long as the nomination is signed by ten party members and accompanied by a signed declaration from the candidate.

Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...

More from Miriam Dalli

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Seriously, Is Simon the best person for the job. I really doubt it. I hope this is not the beginning to the end for the PN for a long time to come.

Joseph Sant •

Probably for the first time I did not vote in this latest poll. My option wasn't there. The poll should have had an option saying: Whoever GonziPN and the party machine want. Then my choice would have been simple.

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excuse me folks the question was who do you think will be the next deputy PN leader and not whom would you like to see as the next deputy leader. If you ask me the first question my thinking would be on what the current political situation within the PN is like. if you ask me the second one then i would give my preference as to whom I would like to see as deputy leader.

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Mario, like his dad is happy to prance around like a prince, without the responsibility of a king. BTW - Lusignan is right in pointing out that there is a BIG difference between asking what you think will happen and what you think should happen. If you ask if I think Gonzi will be in power tomorrow, the answer is yes - but if you ask me where i think he should be tomorrow, the answer will probably be under a tonne of manure or something equally imaginative to describe my contempt for this crook.

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@ Maltatoday - the question put was very misleading and may have been misinterpreted by your readers. The question asked 'who do you think WILL be deputy leader?' and not 'who do you think SHOULD be?'. There is a huge difference. I for one voted for Simom as I think he WILL be voted as deputy leader by the delegates. I don't think Simon SHOULD be deputy leader. Had the question asked 'SHOULD I would have voted for Mario. Hence your survey and its results are flawed.

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Also consider that respondents answered parrot like what they considered a foregone conclusion, and in an automated fashion, rather than logically examining the situation as it might develop in the future. This takes nothing away from Simon Busuttil qualities, and in all probability he will be appointed next week, and unfortunately tainted with GonziPN's failures if he were to be anointed now, pre election. Simon, like Joseph, has international experience in talking shops, but both of these fellows need to be proven in actual management and under duress. Time will tell.

Luke Camilleri •

Dak ghax qatt ma hadem u kien prezenti Malta mac-corma Ministri u MPS lokali mit-talent limitat ta' Gonzi! Xorta nghid WHERE IS THE BACON? X'hadu il-Maaltin mill hidma ta' Simon Busuttil fl-Ewropa? Meta kien hemm Joseph niftakru ir-refu nd li konna hadna mill-licenji tas-Satelita taht Simon x'hadna? Lanqaas dahal ghal konsumatur Malti fil-kaz tar-refund talVAT fuq ir-Registrazzjoni tal-karozzi ! Biex jitkellem helu u jmmesmerizza tajjeb...... sakhemm dak li jqum u jistenbah f'realta ohra! BTW x'jahseb Simon Busuttil fuq li qal Tonio Borg fuq same sex unions, u fuq drittijiet ta' koppji Gay mizzewgin u li kienqal fuqhom Tonio Borg?

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With Simon Busuttil as party leader the PN will continue its downward slide into oblivion. Any bets?

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It seems that Simon Busuttil is seen by the majority and by a large margin as the most popular and suitable person for the post of deputy leader. This no doubt as a prelude to him being declared as the future leader in waiting of the party . It is however important that he is not seen as the anointed leader of the current clique and delegates but as a new beginning of a more open, modern inclusive party which is truly European not only in its formal declarations but also in substance. It is indicative that like Joseph Muscat, SB as MEP earned his spurs in the European political arena rather than in the local traditional context of a village style way of doing politics. Therefore in the future interest of the party one expects that the current delegates and the Pieta officials stand back and not vitiate the election process by active unfair canvassing for any one candidate. Only in this way will be the elected leader be seen as truly representing the interests of all the party grass roots. Such an open contest played by the rules will ensure that there will be no enduring rancour which characterized the election of LG. Such an approach will allow the elected leader to eventually work hand in hand and trust his failed challengers for the leadership. When one looks at the names being banded one finds some of the best elements in the current government and these must be at the core of a revitalized unified party. This inclusive style was part of the success story in leadership of Fenech Adami who managed to ensure the loyalty and extract the best out of his defeated strong challengers.