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James Debono
“It would have been better if Nationalist MPs elected in these districts were consulted before the decision was taken.”
Parliamentary Secretary Frans Agius, who was elected from the third electoral district, which includes Zejtun, insisted that the Party should have consulted those involved in the party’s organisation in the 3 and 4 electoral districts.
Dr Agius told MaltaToday that he had learned of the party’s decision from the media. Agius confirmed that the withdrawal of candidates from Zejtun and Marsa was never on the agenda in meetings of the PN’s national executive and parliamentary group.
Asked about his personal opinion on the matter, Dr Agius said, “I am more inclined to be against than in favour of the decision. Yet I have an open mind on the matter and I understand that there are valid arguments on all sides.” Agius also said that so far he had not received any negative feedback from his constituents following the withdrawal of candidates from the Zejtun election.
The decision to withdraw candidates from Zejtun and Marsa was not discussed by the PN’s executive and parliamentary group and not all the MPs elected from the third and fourth electoral districts are happy with the way the decision was taken.
Another Nationalist MP elected from the third district was Mario Galea. Galea did not want to express an opinion on the withdrawal of candidates and told MaltaToday that he had been absent from PN meetings due to health reasons.
Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi who is elected in the 4 district, which includes Marsa, defended his party’s decision. Asked for his personal opinion on the matter, Azzopardi insisted that he did not have all the data to form a personal opinion on it. He disagreed that the party’s decision would in any way infringe the democratic rights of Zejtun and Marsa residents. “This is politics and not a charity contest. This decision was motivated by political considerations.”
MaltaToday also contacted the President of the Republic Edward Fenech Adami, about the fact that elections will not be taking place in Zejtun and Marsa. Asked to comment on the fact that four candidatures were withdrawn at the very last moment to ensure that elections are not held, The President politely said that he did not have anything to add on the matter.
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