NetNews reports that the Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia won 67.8% of the votes in Saturday’s confidence vote.
In total, 1,496 councillors were eligible to vote, and 1,380 cast their vote. That is a 92% voter turnout, according to the president of the Electoral Commission Francis Zammit Dimech.
Of the votes cast, there were 22 invalid votes. 920 councillors voted in favour of Delia remaining, while 438 voted against. This means that Delia won the vote with 67.75% of the vote in favour, and 32.25% of the councillors voted against him.
Newsbook reports that Adrian Delia said that he will be embarking on a process of refor which would require uncomfortable decisions.
Delia said that he is convinced that his leadership can give the PN back to the people, and that the people can again give the party the credibility and responsibility it deserves.
In a speech aimed at trying to unify the divisions within the party, he invited those who voted against him to take part in the party reforms, and be active voices from within the party.
“I will not interpret this yes vote as a sign that there’s nothing to fix,” he said, before inviting his naysayers to stand alongside him. “You also want a strong party,” he told them. “Have faith in our party and play a part from the inside rather than out. Be at the forefront of change”. (The Times)
Watch Adrian Delia addresses PN General Council after vote.
The Malta Independent reports that the group that pushed for the removal of Adrian Delia from the Nationalist Party leadership said the party should now take cognizance of the fact that one-third of the councillors do not have confidence in him as leader.
In a statement after 67% of the PN councillors voted in favour of Delia in an extraordinary general meeting, the group said the vote was the only way for the party to unblock the difficult situation it found itself in.
The result is a reflection of the outcome of the EP and local council election and shows that there is a “substantial” part of the electoral that does not have confidence in Delia. The party should now understand that this “substantial” part of the councillors, as well as the electorate, that is still to be convinced by Delia. He must now carry out the reforms and take the necessary decisions to win them over. We will continue to give our contribution, the group said.
The statement was signed by Ivan Bartolo, Mark Anthony Sammut, Emma Portelli Bonnici, Emvin Bartolo and Martin Musumec.i
Earlier:
Speaking during the Council Meeting, Adrian Delia vowed to make the Nationalist Party the party of the people again and said he was willing to forgive as he faced a crucial vote about his leadership.
“Ultimately, the question today is not whether you would say yes to Adrian Delia or not, but to say yes to the Nationalist Party, yes to the politics of hope,” Delia said, adding that the PN was a demo-christian party despite forces that were trying to pull the party to an extremity that didn’t reflect its values.
The question posed to party members is: Do you want Adrian Delia to lead the PN until the next general election?
Voting closed at 6pm and an estimated 92 per cent of the 1,496 people eligible to vote had done so, PN media reported. A final result is expected at around 8pm on Saturday evening.
It was Delia himself, somewhat belatedly, who called for the vote after the group calling for his removal had presented a petition requesting the party to hold an extraordinary general council after the massive defeat in the latest MEP and local council elections.
Delia was elected to lead the party in September 2017 in what was the first ever party convention, which allowed all party paid-up members to elect the leader following a change of statute pushed by Delia’s predecessor Simon Busuttil.
The anti-Delia faction in the party has not yet named anyone who could replace him should Delia fail today’s test.
Newsbook : Filmat: Votazzjoni magħluqa; Delia mistenni jirbaħ
Net News : TAGĦLAQ IL-VOTAZZJONI: 92% jivvutaw fil-Kunsill Ġenerali Straordinarju
Times of Malta : Delia warns of ‘pseudo-democracy’ within PN
MaltaToday : PN crunch time: Adrian Delia delivers impassioned appeal to a friendly crowd
Malta Independent : PN leader faces crucial vote in extraordinary general council, voting closes
TVM: Adrian Delia jindirizza l-Kunsill Ġenerali tal-PN – jgħid li mhux se jiġi intimidat
TVM: Adrian Delia jasal id-Dar Ċentrali, riżultat dwar il-futur tiegħu dalwaqt
Photo – Net News
