‘Mistake for PN to keep positioning itself as conservative’ – de Marco

Nationalist Party leadership contender and former Nationalist minister Mario de Marco has said that it would be a mistake for the Nationalist Party to keep positioning itself as conservative.

During a press conference at the Excelsior in Valletta, de Marco confirmed that many among those councillors with whom he has met are concerned with the party's conservative values.

De Marco unveiled a website (www.mariodemarco.eu) which he said would contain information not only about himself and his proposals for the PN's renewal, but also those documents tabled by his competitors.

This, he said, is to allow party councillors and members of the public to compare the ideas side by side and make an informed decision.

Asked whether he was coming face-to-face with criticism about the PN's conservative values - were very much in evidence during the Divorce referendum - de Marco was candid.

"Yes, some feel that the party was too conservative. And I feel that the party paid the price for this," he said.

"If the party wants to be able to look forward and continue to increase its relevance, it cannot remain a party that is labelled conservative, or ultra conservative," he said.

"Traditionally, the party also always contained a strong liberal element," de Marco also pointed out.

The former minister however said that he is not in favour of adopting labels, emphasising instead on the party's responsibility to recognise address the needs of society."

"Every party must recognise the realities of their given society, and the needs that stem from those realities.  A party has a responsibility to address those needs. It would be a mistake if the party keeps trying to position itself as a conservative party given how today's society is no longer a conservative one, but one that is more open."

He noted that a big part of this change is due to socio-economic developments stemming from Malta's EU accession that the PN helped usher in.

"It did not only liberalise the economy, but also the way we think. The realities of Maltese society are considerably more reflexive of the realities of a European society."

"It would be a mistake to have a Maltese party that is more conservative than the UK conservative party," de Marco said by way of example.

During the press conference, de Marco also emphasised how the Nationalist Party's policy and policy approach cannot remain static, but must do so by "reflecting the realities of society, the needs of the Maltese community, and the aspirations of the Maltese society and its different facets."

De Marco also insisted on the PN's need to bring more people towards the party. "You cannot have a party that is closed in on itself, but must give more value to the principle of inclusivity in the party."

He said that the way the party can open itself up is through consultation and information gathering exercises not only the party councillors and activists, but also with members of the public.

"I would be a mistake to limit the consultation process strictly to councillors and party activists or members. We all should have a say," de Marco said.

"I want people to be able to communicate to the party what their expectations are of a political party, whichever one it is. What are we, as a modern society, are we expecting from a political party? What are we today expecting from politics? How is it relevant to our every day life?"

"It is the party that must reflect the needs of society, and not the other way around."

He said that it is with this goal in mind that he was launching his website, which will serve as a platform for people to send in their feedback, and also compare and contrast the respective candidates' proposal documents.

He added that once the feedback has been analysed, a pre-election document would be published.

Fielding questions from the media, de Marco said that his own consultation process is envisaged to running concurrently alongside the consultative process undertaken by the commission investigating the party's defeat at the polls on 9 March.

"What we are doing can work in parallel, but the commission is more focused on the reasons behind the loss. We are looking ahead as to where the party can do. They are different perspectives."

De Marco also fielded questions regarding whether he would be able to work alongside former Prime Minister and interim PN leader Lawrence Gonzi, as well as his approach to the PN's controversial political dinosaurs like Austin Gatt, Joe Saliba, and Richard Cachia Caruana.

While saying that Gonzi would not be an issue, "as he has always given everyone the space to work" and that "he would not interfere or stop the work of a new leader," de Marco's words with regard to the latter three were more measured.

De Marco pointed out that post-election, neither Joe Saliba, Austin Gatt, nor Richard Cachia Caruana were present during any of the PN's parliamentary group or executive group meetings.

"Instead of focusing on people, I want to work with all the good elements within the party," de Marco said, while sidestepping a direct question whether he considers the trio a 'good' element.

"They all have something to contribute to the party. Everyone has experience. But what matters is how much a given leader choses to depend on that experience."

"The party needs to turn a new page and it is time to give space for new people in the party," De Marco said.

Again, de Marco avoided drawing comparisons or differences between himself and his competitors for the post of PN leader, and insisted that he would not be drawn into divisive statements.

"I do not want to make comparisons. I leave those up to others. I have no doubt that everyone has their own styles and qualities."