Simon Busuttil ‘builds bridges’ as Tonio Fenech ‘delivers results’

In their attempts to convince the councilors of the Nationalist Party to vote for them in the deputy leadership election, PN MEP Simon Busuttil and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech went at great lengths to describe themselves as being the one which the party needed to win the general elections.

Interviewed by PBS journalist Reno Bugeja on Dissett, Simon Busuttil said that if the PN wanted to win the elections, it needed "the experience of Lawrence Gonzi and the new face, the new blood, the fresh ideas and the fresh energy of a person like me".

On the other hand, Tonio Fenech described himself "as a team player who listens and delivers results".

Busuttil and Fenech were interviewed separately but both lauded each other as "a valid contender" for the post.

On one hand, Busuttil said that his mission as deputy leader would be "to build a bridge of trust with those who feel that the PN had abandoned them", while Fenech said he would be pushing the work he carried out as minister for finance.

"I also received support to contest because now we'll be presenting the budget, a budget that will play an important role in the PN's campaign for the general elections," Fenech said.

Busutill refuted suggestions that he was in a disadvantaged position when compared to Tonio Fenech who received the support of ministers. "I am not surprised that Tonio Fenech has received the support of the ministers. I was surprised to receive Joe Cassar's [health minister] support.

"But at the end of the day this is not an election to become the finance minister. This is an election where councilors have to choose who they want alongside Lawrence Gonzi to win this election."

On his part, Fenech said that he didn't feel disadvantaged because the Prime Minister appointed Simon Busuttil his special delegate to bridge the party with the civil society.

"Because while he gave Simon this important role, he gave me the ministry that carries the greatest responsibility. If the Prime Minister is the brain, the finance minister is the heart that pumps the finance to the other ministers - who are the body - to be able to carry out their work," Fenech said.

Both Busuttil and Fenech insisted that Lawrence Gonzi wanted a fair contest.

Busuttil said that contrary to what many think that he was the anointed one, "the result cannot be taken fore granted".

"The Prime Minister is allowing the councilors to make their decision. If you want, you could describe it as a contest between an outsider and an insider. But in reality, the parliamentary group is fairly divided between us," Busuttil said.

On his part, Fenech said that he had clearly asked Lawrence Gonzi whether he had already wanted "someone in particular" - ostensibly referring to Busuttil - to take Tonio Borg's place.

"If it were so, I stated that I was ready to give him my support. But the Prime Minister made it clear that he wanted a contest," Fenech said.

Speaking on a possible reconciliation with MPs Franco Debono, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett, Busuttil said that "reconciliation was part of the PN's DNA".

"Its part of our party's history, especially during Eddie Fenech Adami's leadership. He carried out national reconciliation when Malta was coming out of its darkest times. The issue here is not only with these MPs... I want to rebuild that bridge with everyone who feel that the PN wasn't there for them," Busuttil insisted.

On the other hand, Fenech reiterated that he fully agreed with the PN's decision to ban the three MPs. He said that while everyone had the right not to agree, yet everyone should abide by the final decision.

"How else do you want to send a message of stability? If the final decision of the internal discussion is not respected, then that person is not worthy of contesting on a PN ticket," Fenech said.

Like Busuttil, the finance minister said that reconciliation was important with those who feel that the PN no longer represented them.

Reno Bugeja also questioned whether Busuttil had gone against government and the finance minister when he wrote to Gonzi questioning why MFSA was not using its full powers to rectify damages suffered by clients following mistakes committed by enterprises.

But according to Busutill, this wasn't the case: "First of all, that was a confidential letter that should have never been published. It was sent six months ago, so it had nothing to do with the contest and I only said that justice should be done where justice should be done."

In the second part of the programme, Bugeja grilled Tonio Fenech over the Noel Borg Hadley case - where Fenech's former private secretary admitted to bribery.

Bugeja asked whether it had been an error of judgement on Fenech's behalf. The journalist commented that this case was very much similar to the case which led to the resignation of John Dalli as EU commissioner.

However, Fenech said it was "unfair" to compare the two cases. "Borg Hadley admitted in court to taking the money without my knowing. In the case of Dalli, the OLAF report is saying that Dalli knew that Zammit was taking money by using his [Dalli's] position," Fenech said.

When Bugeja pointed out that John Dalli was denying this allegation, Fenech reiterated that comparison was unfair.

"I trusted Noel. I never thought he would do such a thing. Moreover, people are screened before they are placed in these positions of trust and I had no reason to believe he couldn't be trusted. It was an unfortunate incident," Fenech said.

He however did admit an error of judgement when asked about his decision to fly to an Arsenal game with businessman Joe Gasan aboard the private jet owned by the Tumas Group to watch the Gunners play in London.

At the time, Tumas group was bidding for the 10-year lease of the Dragonara Casino in St Julian's.

"I agree that it was an error of judgement and I publicly apologised," Fenech said this evening, adding that the Prime Minister had always known that he was to fly with them to watch the game.

"There was no reason why I should have hid it... I mean they supported Arsenal, I support Arsenal... but if you ask me if I would do it again, I would say no," he added.