[WATCH] Salvu Mallia backtracks: 'If Simon asked, I would toe the party line'

For the first time, Mallia says he would toe the party line

Salvu Mallia, outspoken candidate of the Nationalist Party, acknowledged for the first time today that he would toe the party line and follow any instructions given by the party’s leader.

The former TV presenter told MaltaToday that – if he were ever to be asked by opposition leader Simon Busuttil to curb his colourful way of speaking – he would bow his head to the leadership and obey.

“If I am within a party, I have to toe the party line,” he said, while acknowledging that some party members and supporters did not necessarily approve of his style.

Mallia was intercepted on his way in to the PN‘s headquarters where the party’s candidates were called for a meeting to discuss a “strategy that could bring down the most corrupt government in the country’s history”.

And while most candidates, both new and some veteran figures – including current members of parliament – chose to ignore questions put to them or repeat the official subject of the meeting, Mallia had no objection to stop and chat.

He admitted that Busuttil had, on occasion, called him to speak to him about some episode or other but insisted he had never been ordered to do anything yet.

“What I love about this party is that they don’t tell you, ‘Listen, you have to support these friends of ours, even though we know they are corrupt’” Mallia said.

“Instead, they call you to discuss matters, to get to the bottom of things in a civil manner.”

He said Busuttil had not said anything to him about his (Mallia’s) decision to hold a one-man (and one-dog) protest against “the corrupt regime” outside Castille on Sunday.

“To be honest, he has not spoken to me about it all,” he said.

Mallia said that messages on Facebook and other social media platforms made it clear that some party supporters found his style distasteful or did not agree with his view on certain issues.

“To those people I say ‘Do not vote for Salvu Mallia’ because I would definitely not vote for someone I did not like,” he said.

But he had joined the PN because it allowed him to follow his conscience and the Maltese flag; those were the so-called ‘conditions’ that he and the party leadership had discussed before his candidacy was announced, he said.

“Once Simon Busuttil and the party stop following their conscience and the national flag, they will no longer find me there with them.”

When asked what he thought he was bringing to the party and what kind of voter he hoped to attract, Mallia was clear.

“I am attracting all good-thinking people, honest people,” he said.

David Thake would support Mallia censure

Most other candidates who chose to answer our questions would not commit themselves on Mallia’s style and language, although some did say they did not personally approve of his choice of words on occasion.

David Thake says Mallia has a lot to offer the PN

Except for former Radio 101 people’s favourite, David Thake, who was the only candidate to answer directly when MaltaToday asked if he felt the party should censure Mallia for his language and style.

“I believe, in political issues, the party has the right to ensure that a candidate is in line with the levels expected of everyone within the party,” he said.

But, Thake stressed, Mallia had a lot to offer – not only to the PN in particular – but the country in general.