Metsola distances herself from early PN leadership reports

Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola has distanced herself from reports by the Labour Party’s media that she is eyeing the PN leadership.

One News reported today that discussions are underway in the PN for Metsola and Busuttil to “swap” seats – with Metsola taking Busuttil’s spot in the Maltese Parliament and Busuttil returning to the European Parliament.

The report claimed that Metsola is the preferred choice of the PN “establishment” and that she will possibly compete against PN MP Claudio Grech.

However, Metsola told MaltaToday that the report is a “complete fabrication” and an attempt by Labour to sow divisions within the party only two days after it suffered a catastrophic defeat at the polls.

“We have just suffered a worse defeat than in 2013, and now we need to come together as a team and start to rebuild the party,” she said. “It is way too early to start talking about potential leaders less than 24 hours after Busuttil resigned, and before we have even elected all our MPs.

“We need to analyze what went wrong and come up with a plan or risk creating divisions where there are none.”

She said she intends to complete her mandate as MEP – which lasts until 2019 – and that it is far too early to speak of any leadership rumours. Indeed, she noted that the Labour Party had spent a few months without a leader in the wake of the 2008 election, eventually electing Joseph Muscat.

“We need time some time to grieve and any speculation at this stage will only re-open wounds,” she said. “It will be irresponsible to dive into a leadership battle without first properly analyzing the election result. We’re in no hurry, and the worst thing to do would be to rush into something.”

Simon Busuttil, as well as PN deputy leaders Beppe Fenech Adami and Mario de Marco, secretary general Rosette Thake and executive president Ann Fenech, announced their resignations on Monday in the wake of the general election results.