Nationalist Party Parliamentary Whip David Agius is adamant that he will contest the party's deputy leadership for parliamentary affairs position whether his fellow MP Chris Said runs for the post or not, even though Said is pushing for a one-horse race that would see him run for the post unchallenged, this newspaper is informed.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, MP Edwin Vassallo, who announced yesterday that he would also run for the post, claimed that Said is seeking an uncontested election and that he would stand down, which is due to be held by the year's end, if Agius were to do the same.
Also contacted yesterday, Chris Said, who failed to be elected party leader last month, refused to comment on whether he would run for the position or not. Since losing the party leadership election to Delia on 16 September, Said has not given comments to the media or posted anything on his Facebook page, where he was very much active during the leadership campaign.
Agius, who had shown an interest in becoming Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs right from the start, insisted that he has no intention whatsoever of standing down from the contest.
Vassallo told this newspaper yesterday that he is under the impression that Chris Said is seeking an uncontested election similar to how Mario de Marco, who also finished as a runner up in the last party leadership election, had been elected as Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs in the wake of his defeat.
Vassallo declared his intention to run for the post after having what he described as a "positive" meeting with PN leader Adrian Delia, in which Vassallo said he spoke about bringing people back to the party.
Vassallo, known for his conservative views, was the only MP to have voted recently against same-sex marriage, which had resulted in him coming under fire, but in the process, he also gained the respect of core Christian voters. Vassallo had also been an avid supporter of Chris Said during the leadership election campaign.
As such, Vassallo made it clear to this newsroom yesterday that he had laid down one condition to Delia. He pledged his loyalty to the party but stipulated that if David Agius decided to step down as a contender, he would also withdraw from the deputy leadership election because of his loyalty to Said and the party "so that Chris Said may put his name forward for the post as had happened in Mario de Marco's case".
Nonetheless, the current deputy leadership for parliamentary affairs election remains a contentious and problematic affair.
Agius had expressed his intention to run for the post to The Malta Independent on Sunday back in July, when he had been the first to announce his candidacy.
"I believe I have a lot to offer to the PN. For me, this is my natural next step," he had said.
At the time, Agius had also pledged loyalty to whoever was eventually chosen as the PN's next leader. "I am willing to work with whoever the party members choose as the party's leader. As an MP, I have always been loyal to all PN leaders – be it Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi or Simon Busuttil".
Delia and Said have had their disagreements especially during the last few days of the leadership campaign, and Delia has now reportedly encouraged Said to stand for the election.
Sources within the party have pointed out that Delia would like to see Said elected as deputy leader to help reunite the party, which has been somewhat fractured in the wake of a divisive leadership campaign.
PN MP Robert Arrigo, who is contesting for deputy leader of party affairs, yesterday said about Vassallo's decision on Facebook: "The joy of having people like Edwin coming forward is immense." Arrigo said that nobody should be excluded, precluded or convinced against putting themselves forward.
He added, "The more candidates the better and eligible voters will have more of a choice. My deputy leadership nomination is there and is confirmed. I declare that I will accept no remuneration from the PN for my work. I gave and will give to the party, I will not take. Funds should go to the employees of the party."
He said he hopes that more contestants will come forward. "People play hide and seek out in the open, breathing down somebody's neck. There are too many faces wanting the position behind the leader for a photo session. I have always been my own man, and not somebody's sidekick."
When Delia met Prime Minister Joseph Muscat last Tuesday, he was accompanied by MPs Clyde Puli and David Agius, which had raised eyebrows and suggestions that the two are Delia's chosen deputy leaders.
While Agius is in the running for the parliamentary affairs position, when contacted yesterday Puli told this newsroom that he is still considering running for deputy leader for party affairs.
Meanwhile, PN sources said Delia called the MP a few days ago to try to persuade him not to contest the post of deputy leader for party affairs. "As a compromise, Mr Arrigo was offered to oversee the PN's finances. However, he flatly refused the offer," sources said.
MP Kristy Debono, similarly, did not confirm or deny whether she would contest a deputy leadership position, telling this newspaper that she was taking the time to do some soul searching. She said she will serve wherever Delia asks her to serve, but that she is open to contesting any role.
When asked about the rumours that her husband Jean Pierre Debono had given up his parliamentary seat for Delia and that in return she would get a top job, she said that when they the rumour the first time the couple had laughed it off. Both she and her husband had supported Delia's party leadership bid.
She admitted that she could now understand why people were starting to believing the rumour since her husband had surrendered his seat to Delia.
She added, "No one was ready to relinquish their seat so we started looking at the 7th District where Jean-Pierre was elected. The fact of the matter was that all the other remaining candidates in that district were willing to give Dr Delia the seat.
"I can assure you no discussions took place in which Jean Pierre giving up his seat meant I would be made deputy leader. I honestly can't believe people believed that because, if it had really been a done deal, it would have been done a while ago and not used as a last resort option."
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2g14OE5
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