Watch: 'I won't kick PN MPs out of the party' - Adrian Delia

Adrian Delia said that he has no intention of kicking Nationalist Party MPs out of the party if he were to become leader.

On Monday, Delia officially announced his candidacy for the PN leadership, five years after he resigned from the position.

He held that post from 2017 to 2020, until he was forced to resign after losing a vote of confidence. The no-confidence vote was led by a PN parliamentary rebel group.

Speaking to journalists outside parliament on Tuesday, Delia was asked whether he would kick out the likes of PN MPs Karol Aquilina and Beppe Fenech Adami, who were part of the group who forced him out. 

“My job in the Nationalist Party is not to kick people out, but to bring in many people we need,” Delia responded.

Delia added that it is not the party leader’s role to decide who gets elected or removed from parliament; that decision lies with the voters.

The former leader noted that the PN’s executive council is responsible for selecting the candidates for the upcoming election, but he did not elaborate further, as the process is still at a stage where additional leadership contenders may come forward

“Every person, whoever they may be, we want them in the Nationalist Party,” Delia said without singling out the possibility of accepting the return of people who left parliament.

He did not specify who he was referring to; he simply said the party “wants everyone”.

Looking ahead, Delia insisted he has evolved since his previous tenure and promised that, if elected leader again, things would be different this time.