Busuttil proposes new deputy leader for party affairs

The PN's executive committee today decided to create a new deputy leader's post who will be responsible for party affairs, on a similar model as that employed by the Labour Party.

The motion for the new post will be presented to an extraordinary General Council meeting to be held on Sunday. If approved the nominations for the two posts will open the day after on Monday, and elections held on 25 May, the day designated for the original deputy leader's election.

The decision may well accommodate leadership contender Mario de Marco, the former tourism minister who garnered 38% of the vote in the first round of voting for the PN leadership.

"Everyone is free to contest the posts," Busuttil told the press today when asked whether he had tried to convince other contenders not to run for the deputy leader's post, which he denied.

The posts are likely to be contested by Beppe Fenech Adami and newly-elected MP Claudette Buttigieg.

Nationalist MPs pledged their full confidence in new party leader Simon Busuttil and extended their gratitude to Mario de Marco, Francis Zammit Dimech and Ray Bugeja for their service after their unsuccessful run for the party leadership.

The parliamentary group, which met today for the first time under Busuttil's leadership, issued two resolutions: the first declaring its commitment to offer the country its service "in the national interest and the common good", and in the second resolution expressing gratitude to former leader Lawrence Gonzi.

"We pay tribute to Lawrence Gonzi, prime minister and PN leader for nine years between 23 March 2004 and 8 May 2013, for his service, commitment and total dedication, which he gave to the Maltese people in both the public and voluntary spheres.

"We are grateful that under his leadership he had the opportunity to serve the country in parliament and abroad, and we salute Lawrence Gonzi and his wife Kate and wish them all success in their work and enjoyment of their life and family."

Busuttil also met the administrative council as well as the party's executive. Former party leaders Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi.

Busuttil today was expected to hold an informal meeting with employees of the PN and its companies, after financial problems in the aftermath of the general elections left the administration with no cash to pay salaries.

"I won't be coming with a plan," Busuttil said. "I have appointed a commission to identify the party's financial problems. The main message I want to convey is that I am close to these employees and I will be touching base with them."

PN employees have not received their April salaries, the second consecutive month that workers have not been paid at the end of the month. Most employees had received their March salaries in mid-April. The party and its media companies are believed to employ around 150 people.