Watch: Franco Debono says he has 'obligation to explore' PN leadership bid
'If I was the problem, the PN would have flourished since I left, but we know what happened'
Franco Debono said on Wednesday that he had “an obligation to explore” running for leader of the Nationalist Party, after a survey among PN members showed the outspoken lawyer among the top three contenders for the job.
A scientific survey among Nationalist Party members leaked to Times of Malta on Tuesday showed Alex Borg as the favourite to be the PN’s next leader on 27.5%, Adrian Delia was second at 19.3%, while around nine percent of members said they wanted Franco Debono.
In comments to Times of Malta on Wednesday, Debono said the survey results meant that he now had “responsibilities”.
“That result means that I now have the responsibility of exploring it (contesting for the leader). Till now I haven’t done anything – people have approached me, called me and sent messages, but I haven’t approached anyone.”
The former MP said he will go to PN members, Members of Parliament, and councillors to see what they think about a leadership bid.
Debono said any decisions should be in the interest of the Nationalist Party, adding that the PN should be in a position to present itself as an alternative government.
Debono was a Nationalist MP at a time when the PN government had a one-seat majority in parliament. His decision to vote against the government on the Budget in the autumn of 2012 spelt the end of the government.
So will Debono manage to lead the PN with that baggage?
“With the benefit of hindsight, history has judged the proposals and reforms I had proposed... what you call baggage are positions I took because I felt that the party was losing contact with the people. Ultimately, electoral results have shown that my warnings were justified,” Debono said.
Debono mentioned proposed reforms to the constitution and justice system.
He said that the survey results showed that the proposals he had made were justified.
He pointed out that he left politics and the PN 12 years ago (although he is a member).
“If I were the problem, the PN would have flourished but we know what happened, so I don’t think I was the problem.”
He said the PN needed to be more inclusive and welcome people who might not all have the same opinions about everything.
“Those who want the PN to be an alternative government should want a more inclusive party, something that the Nationalist Party hasn’t been.”
Whether MPs and officials in the party agree remains to be seen, he said.
“First, I need to run and then be elected,” he said. “But I have no doubt that there is an element of scepticism.”
Still, no party leader ever has the full backing of a party, Debono said.