A change at the top

A change at the top in Maltese political parties is certainly not an everyday occurrence. Statistically, this occasion seems to be even rarer as far as the Nationalist Party is concerned.

By sheer coincidence, Eddie Fenech Adami, who has relinquished his post after 27 years had succeeded George Borg Olivier after the latter had led the party for another 27 years.

Last week's change at the top, therefore, was a historic moment in more ways than one. In the post-war period since the 1947 elections, there were only two other occasions in Malta when a prime minister replaced another as a result of a change in the leadership of the party in Government rather than as a result of an electoral defeat of the incumbent.

The first instance was when George Borg Olivier succeeded Nerik Mizzi, who died in office in December 1950. The other occasion was when Dom Mintoff stepped back and handed over the reins of power to Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici - a strange episode when one prime minister not only hand-picked his successor but also expected to keep leading him by the hand for ever more.

In both cases, the two men who assumed the leadership of their party and the premiership were uncontested. This year's leadership race between three members of Eddie Fenech Adami's Cabinet was therefore a historic first.

In choosing a new leader, party delegates have to rely on their sixth sense more than anything else. Twenty-seven years ago, there were many who thought that Guido de Marco had more gumption to tackle Mintoff, then at the height of his career.

Eventually, however, Eddie did not disappoint anyone on that score. Eddie's election to the party leadership could have appeared to be something of a gamble for many but in the end it proved to be a very wise and good choice.

Yet, I am sure that it did not cross the mind of anyone of those who backed Eddie's bid to the party leadership - myself included - that they were supporting the most successful leader in the history of the Nationalist Party who would chalk up five electoral wins and a referendum victory, and suffer just one defeat in 27 years.

It would be rather stupid, therefore, for anyone to try and foretell what the future holds for the PN under the leadership of Lawrence Gonzi; whether he is - to plagiarise Shakespeare - taking the tide at the flood, and hence leading on the PN to fortune.

Obviously, the PN councillors chose the man whom they thought stands the biggest chance of holding on to the PN's winning streak, and who would prove to be the best man to keep the MLP at bay. Only time will tell whether their choice turns out to be as judicious as that made 27 years ago when Eddie Fenech Adami was elected party leader.

In another few weeks, practically on the eve of Malta becoming an EU member, Dr Gonzi will be taking over the Prime Minister's office. This is yet another hallmark of the historical significance of his rise to the PN leadership. It has been said that now that we are joining the EU, the need to shake off what's left of our colonial mentality has become a sine qua non.

What better way to do that than to get someone who was just a ten-year-old kid in 1964 to lead the country into Europe? I do not think that the age factor weighed much in the mind of the PN councillors who voted in Dr Gonzi as party leader, but it is interesting to note that they opted for the youngest of the three contenders.

Dr Gonzi's first test will be how he moulds his first Cabinet. I am sure that his two defeated opponents will be asked to handle two important portfolios - there is no doubt on his magnanimity in victory. However, this should not hinder what will be his first concrete message to the people of Malta - a message that should shout out loud and clear, and in no uncertain terms that he is now in charge and that things are going to be done his way.

After 27 years at the helm of the PN, both Dr Borg Olivier and Dr Fenech Adami handed over a stronger and more popular party to their successors than that they had taken over from their predecessors. Dr Gonzi's declared ambition to make the party even stronger and more popular is therefore a tall order.

The fact that he spelled it out in his first speech as PN leader speaks volumes. He knows that there is no other way than forward for any attempt to stay still to retain one's position will inevitably lead to a downward slide.

Registering such a notable achievement after succeeding a political giant of Eddie's stature is no easy job. But who ever said that the Prime Minister's job is an easy one?