Approved: PN to have two deputy leaders

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil urged his party it was now time "to get down to business" after the general council unanimously approved a proposal to amend the party's statute, paving the way for the election of a second deputy leader.

Nominations for the deputy leadership elections open tomorrow and close on Tuesday with the election taking place on 25 May.

Busuttil, who tomorrow will be sworn in as Opposition leader replacing Lawrence Gonzi, also announced that he will be appointing his shadow Cabinet in the coming days.

Following 21 interventions made from among the councillors, Busuttil took the floor and reiterated that the widening of the PN's hierarchy sends a clear message that the party was opening up at all levels.

"The leadership of the party is not about one person but about a team... TeamPN," he said.

"Our door will be open to everyone... to anyone who has the party's interest at heart and not their personal interests."

Generating a standing ovation, Busuttil said the PN's doors will be wide open to those whose first and foremost interest will be the party's.

Listing some of the crucial changes needed in the statute, Busuttil said that local councilors should have a vote in the general council, a proposal originally floated by MP Robert Arrigo.

Busuttil also expressed his disagreement to a current party rule whereby former MPs do not enjoy a vote within the general council.

Standing by his campaign pledges, the new leader revealed that in the coming days a number of commissions will be set up: together with the party's leadership, a commission will be visiting every locality in Malta and Gozo to prepare a report based on the feedback that emerges; by end of July a separate commission must prepare a report on changes which must be carried out to the party's statute and structures.

Possibly the most important for the party right now, Busuttil will be appointing a commission to review the party's financial position and come up with concrete proposals on how to address the party's finances which are in dire straits.