[Live-blog] Bad weather keeps PN secretary-general away from General Council

[CLICK HERE] Simon Busuttil addresses the PN general council

12:10 The motion to approve the amendments was approved by the PN General Council. Simon Busuttil will take to the stage in a few minutes to address the party faithful.

12:05 PN General Secretary will not address the General Council as the Gozo ferry is not operating due to the bad weather.

Taking his place is the head of the PN's commission for the statue revision Francis Zammit Dimech, who while paying tribute to Chris Said, took a dig at the government saying it is a "pity that his trip was not facilitated by a helicopter trip."

Turning his attention on the amendments to the PN statute, the head of the commission said the PN is ready to address the true vision of the country.

"We want to have numerous policy forums that address a number of current issues. These forums will help us formulate the party and address the stands being voiced by the country and the general public," Zammit Dimech said.

In a clear attempt to address the democratic deficit within its structures, the PN will increase female and youth participation. The proposed amendments include changes to the composition of the executive council, which would be made up of nine women and nine men. Further amendments will see the election of three youths out of these three respective nine persons.

"The Nationalist Party wants to become more inclusive. These amendments are intended to serve as a platform to the general public and to convey the message that the party is ready to be the people's party," Zammit Dimech said.

Meanwhile, the party is also proposing the creation of new organs to "make the party more inclusive and increase synergy between activists," including an equal opportunities forum that is expected to serve as a platform to increase equality.

"We want to be a more equal party. The election of nine women and nine women will means that the party is more democratic and inclusive. The general council, which is the highest organ of the party, will now include nine women and nine men."

Further proposed amendments include the election of the PN leadership by all paid-up party members and the creation of a committee to regulate and monitor the behaviour of the party's candidates.

The PN will also invite people from outside the party to stake their claim and voice their stand on several issues. 

11:42 Moreover, PN Executive Committee President Ann Fenech paid tribute to the party commission for its amendments, and explained how in light of the electoral defeat, Simon Bususttil started to address the things which were acting as stumbling blocks to the detriment of the party.

"Since the party's loss, the commission for the revisionof the statute has embarked upon making the party better, less marginalised and more representative."

"There are hundreds of new people that are ready to involve themselves in the party's operations - this is because the PN opening its doors for everyone. The party is here for everyone who wants to voice their opinion and who wants to participate."

11:35 On his part, Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo, said the PL voters were treated to a good propaganda but instead of being treated to the PL's battle cries of meritocracy and economic growth, they were served with an "expired product and a tainted and distorted picture.

"I do not blame the people two voted the Labour Party, but 11 months down the line, they have been made aware that Labour's promises have not materialised, and instead of serving the people, the government is serving its inner circles and Labourites." 

11:20 Meanwhile, deputy speaker Censu Galea said the PN is feeling the greater need to change the party.

"The PN msut reflect the radical change in society. Consequently, it must acknowledge these changes in society and learn from its electoral defeat."

"The changes in the PN leadership, secretary general and the statute are a step direction, but we all know this is not enough."

11:15 PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco has said the revamped statute of the PN is down to its electoral defeat and also said that Joseph Muscat's subsequent governing served the necessary platform to affect the amendments in the PN statute.

De Marco insisted that the Opposition will not partake in the government's "tarnishing of Malta's reputation and workers' rights," but conversely, the PN will act when it deems necessary for the  "country's wellbeing."

The government has introduced more than 1200 new jobs in the civil service, yet it is posting unemployment.

"Is this the government's roadmap? How will the government offset these statistics? It does not have a clue how it is going to do this... except by selling the Maltese passport."

Meanwhile, the PN Deputy Leader also said that the party must not be afraid of change and upgrades in its politics. These amendments are necessary to reflect the people's worries and their needs.

On the change in the country, de Marco said it is now up to the electorate to vote PN, but said the Nationalist Party, on its part, has already affected the necessary changes.

"Nevertheless, this is not enough and the PN will work more. It is important to assist the PN Leader Simon Busuttil - but this can only be achieved if everyone pulls the same rope. Our aspirations and politics have to change and address the new realities of the world in ten years' time."

"We must not be critical of the government, but instead we have to work on an alternative political approach. The worst thing that it can do is talk to its members only. Not to worry, the PN has learnt and since its electoral loss, it is opened its doors to everyone."

10:55 Meanwhile, Karl Gouder has said the opposition has been never "as strong as before."

"The Opposition is ready for everything. It is an alternative government ready for all challenges and to weather any storms. It is giving direction."

While bemoaning the citizenship scheme, and the government's tenure, Gouder said the opposition is stronger to serve in government.

10:48 Opposition spokesperson for competitiveness and economic growth Kristy Debono, said the government's 11-month tenure has only resulted in soaring unemployment rates and worrying statistics that shed light on its "incompetence".

"Despite the statistics showing increases in unemployment and decreases in production, the government is still denying these figures, instead it accusing the opposition of being negative," Debono said. 

11 months into its legislature, the government's only roadmap to offset these figures is the sale of the Maltese passport.

"The government is steamrolling over the opposition and persisting on selling the citizenship and carrying out vindictive transfers."

Malta's finances have been dealt a blow too - Revenue is decreasing while in a few months, the expenses increased by €22 million. Consequently, she said, the country will still be in the excessive deficit procedure.

10:32 On his part, Opposition whip David Agius has said that the Opposition is not fragmented but its members are pulling the same rope and while referring to the PN's proposed amendments and private members' bills, he said the Opposition members are not fragmented but instead, they are pulling the same rope for the "good of the country and the party."

The PN is participating into committees, something which Minister Manuel Mallia knows all too well about.

"He said he did not know about the ongoing meeting. However, I hope he knows about the half a million hidden under his mattress, or that his backbencher is using the army helicopter, or that a minister who is declaring to be receiving minimum wage is at the same time calling on the Gozo Channel to return to the port," while referring to Mallia eavesdropping a PN meeting. 

Moreover, Agius, bemoaned Sai Mizzi Liang's - the wife of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi - and her '€13,500 contract as an envoy for the Malta Enterprise'.

"There is never a dull moment under the PL government: from the vindictive transfers, the Labourites and billboard people being treated to the state's coffers, to the government's cash-for-citizenship scheme."

On the upcoming MEP elections, Agius said it is the ideal platform to convey the electorate's dissatisfaction with the government. He also said the PN must work to have at least three MEPs as this would be ideal to hold the standards of the country.

10:15 Launching his battle cry on the maxim that 'everyone knows where he stands with the PN', former minister George Pullicino starts off by stressing that the party does not make promises behind people's back.

Taking a swipe at the Labour Party, Pullicino said the PN doeAgius has said that the Opposition is not fragmented but its members are pulling the same rope and while referring to the PN's proposed amendments and private members' bills, he said the Opposition members are not fragmented but instead, they are pulling the same rope for the "good of the country and the party."

The PN is participating into committees, something that Minister Manuel Mallia knows all too well about.

"He said he did not know about the ongoing meeting. However, I hope he knows about the half a million hidden under his mattress, or that his backbencher is using the army helicopter, or that a minister who is declaring to be receiving minimum wage is at the same time calling on the Gozo Channel to return to the port."

Moreover, Agius, bemoaned Sai Mizzi Liang's - the wife of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi - and her '€13,500 contract as an envoy for the Malta Enterprise'.

"There is never a dull moment under the PL government: from the vindictive transfers, the Labourites and billboard people being treated to the state's coffers, to the government's cash-for-citizenship scheme."

On the upcoming MEP elections, Agius said it is the ideal platform to convey the electorate's dissatisfaction with the government. He also said the PN must work to have at least three MEPs as this would be ideal to hold the standards of the country's not make unannounced promises to fulfil them once elected.

 "We do not make laws to hide any names but whoever you are, be it a chairman of a state entity, a judge or a magistrate, you have to answer to your actions and shoulder your responsibilities. We are not ready to follow the Labour party in implementing new rules to delay or hinder proceedings, but the PN will make sure everyone faces their due responsibility."

"We are not hibernating in the opposition, but conversely, we are making inroads to implement new targets to target more new blood and to truly 'renew' the party. It is fundamental to make it more representative, but notwithstanding these amendments, we will not be steamrolled by anyone who is not accepted by the party."

A case in point, Pullicino said, are people involved in masonry, saying in 1990, the Nationalist Party and the-then General council had prohibited such people from enrolling within party ranks.

09:55 Claudette Buttigieg starts the general council off lauding the PN commission for the statute revision, saying they are a step in the right direction. She however, reiterated that the Nationalist Party are not ashamed of their grassroots or their past.

Lauding former PN leader Lawrence Gonzi, she hailed the Nationalist Party for "leading the country's EU membership." In a dig at the government, she says Joseph Muscat and his Cabinet has managed to overturn the work of the previous administration into shambles and turn the country into a laughing stock.

"Labour's tenure has been littered with controversies and shortcomings: the appointment of a minister's wife, the political arrest of Norman Vella, the government awarding the Australia Hall to the Labour party, the police acting as waiters and to top it all off the government came up with the ingenious idea of selling the Maltese citizenship."

In a scathing attack on the government, Buttigieg said the government harmed Malta's reputation but pledged the party councillors that the PN has weather the storm after its electoral loss.

09:50 In approving the amendments, the Nationalist Party is set to revamp its structures and to make the party more inclusive. Following its unprecedented electoral defeat in March 2013, the party's members cited the lack of synergy between activists, the party's inner circles and the lack of new blood among the main reasons for the party's demise. In a clear attempt to address the democratic deficit within its structures, the PN is planning to open up its doors to increase female and youth participation. The proposed amendments include changes to the composition of the executive council, which would be made up of nine women and nine men, and moreover, the amendments are set to the party leadership elected by all card-carrying members. 

09:40 Good morning and welcome to MaltaToday's live-blog of the PN General Council. Nationalist speakers and members of the General Council will address the party's members on the proposed amendments to the PN statute, amendments which Head of PN's commission for statute revision Francis Zammit Dimech has dubbed as the "most significant in 40 years."