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James Debono
He was present in all the official talks that led to Independence. He worked with Gorg Borg Olivier for 35 years. He was responsible for the publication of the party’s first newspaper called Il-Poplu, and was a Nationalist Party secretary general.
Fifty years later, he will be giving a lecture on Borg Olivier, organised by Alleanza Nazzjonali Repubblikana, a far right movement which seeks legitimacy by appropriating itself of historical icons of the Nationalist Party.
The seminar is being advertised in the ANR website as one of the movement’s forthcoming events.
But Ragonesi has denied any association with the newly set-up movement and even expressed his surprise that the event was being organised by the ANR.
Ragonesi told MaltaToday that when a certain Coppini invited him to address this lecture he was not even told that it was being organised by the ANR. He said he barely knew what the new movement stands for and that he has never attended any of its meetings.
“I will always remain loyal to the Nationalist Party and I have no connection to this new movement,” Ragonesi said, who added that he will still give his lecture since he never loses any occasion to commemorate his mentor Borg Olivier.
“I had even gone on Super One to speak about him so I see no problem accepting this invitation.”
Despite his loyalty to the party, Ragonesi has been a lone eurosceptic voice in his party expressing doubts on the adoption of the Euro and the EU Constitution. Last year he also criticised the party’s withdrawal strategy from Zejtun and Marsa local elections. Still, the party veteran clearly has no intention of defecting to the far right.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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