Updated | Nationalist Party’s parliamentary group meets at tas-Silg retreat house

The parliamentary group of the Nationalist Party met at a retreat house at Tas-Silg in Marsaxlokk for a morning of discussions led by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

According to deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Mario de Marco, the group met to draft the way forward for the upcoming parliamentary sessions, which is reconvene on October 10.

"This is the duty of every parliamentarian," De Marco added.

Beppe Fenech Adami and Mario De Marco after the meeting

Insiders told MaltaToday that the meeting served to discuss the party’s pre-elections strategy. The meeting follows statements by Busuttil who said the party must be ready to take on the election, whenever it comes.

Shadow social solidarity minister Paula Mifsud Bonnici, president of the PN general council, described the meeting as “one of over a hundred regular” parliamentary group meetings.

Paula Mifsud Bonnici and Claudette Buttigieg Pace walk to their parked cars after the meeting

She went on to add that the group discussed how Malta could elect a different government to "the corrupt one we have now”.
Contacted for an official comment, a spokesperson for the PN reiterated that the meeting was “a regular one”.

"In fact, today's meeting was the 144th meeting of this legislature,” the spokesperson said.

He went on to add the PN “will continue to offer a strong opposition” in parliament which will reconvene in 10 days' time.

Tony Abela and Kristy Debono leaving the venue

“The parliamentary group is also focused on ensuring that the Maltese citizens are given a better quality of life, and this can only be ensured through the proposals being rolled out and explained by PN Leader Simon Busuttil,” the spokesperson said.

MP Mario Galea, who was amongst the first to leave the seminar, opted not to entertain media questions and quipped: “We were praying for us … and for you.”