Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1148959
YOU have all heard the old saying: 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Ah, but what happens if it really is broke – well and truly smashed to atoms, in fact – and you want to fix it, but just… can't? Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough. For make no mistake: I have consulted the Oracle of Delphi; I have poured over the prophecies of Nostradamus; I have read tea- leaves and Tarot cards; I have analysed the flights of birds, and observed the movement of the stars… heck, I even dissected the entrails of that lamb I sacrificed the other day. And they all say the same thing. The PN is f***ed. No two ways about it: there is not a single conceivable outcome of yesterday's vote – note: I'm actually writing this on Friday, but you know what I mean – that can possibly spell out anything but a weaker, more divided party at all levels. At present, for instance, all indicators point towards a victory for Adrian Delia. In case you're wondering, these include a counter-petition (i.e., in Delia's favour) signed by considerably more coun- cillors than the one calling for his removal; but also the rather non-chalant way Delia himself has suggested he would 'take hard deci- sions' when the time comes – suggesting he has enough inside information to know he's going to have a few heads to affix to his battlements – and also the last-minute, somewhat panicky attempts to remind us all of his dodgy financial situation, his family problems, etc. But I admit that at least two of those are speculative. So, tell you what: let's take the least likely scenario first. Let's suppose that Delia loses that vote by a hefty margin. Part of the problem with that scenario is that… Jeeze, not even Nostradamus himself could possibly hope to entangle it. What would it even mean, anyway? Delia would presumably have to of- fer his resignation instantly… but does that translate into certainty that he will? Past experience suggests otherwise. Let's face it: if he didn't resign when the electorate told him to, in no uncertain terms, just six weeks ago… what's to guaran- tee he won't repeat that stunt when told the same thing by his own party? Even if he does resign, how- ever… what then? The party will have to face another lead- ership contest, for which no one has even remotely hinted at any interest whatsoever… which also means there is no clear picture of what cards will be brought to the table, what policy directions will be on offer, etc, etc. And what is that, if not a complete and utter leap in the dark? Besides: whoever wins this vote will only inherit a party beset by the same internal bickering. For unless someone steps in clean from the outside (and… oh, so many ironies… that is pre- cisely what Delia tried to do…) the next PN leader is still going to hail from one or another minority sub-grouping from within the same party. If it's Ivan Bar- tolo (to name but one who hasn't actually ruled out the pos- sibility), he will have to contend with the fury of the pro-Delia brigade he has just ousted. And if it's anyone who expressed any level of support whatsoever for Adrian Delia over the past two years… he or she will constantly be reminded of those 'bicca blog- ger' comments they once ap- plauded; or the time when De- lia was booed at a Sliema vigil for Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017 (more of this in a sec)... and so on, ad infinitum. For even if the (real or 24 OPINION maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JULY 2019 Raphael Vassallo For roughly all the same reasons, the extent of his victory will hardly matter. Sure, a strong showing – say, anything above 75% – will give him more security of tenure in the short term Whatever happens this weekend, the PN will emerge broken YOU have all heard the old saying: 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Ah, but what happens if it really is broke – well and truly smashed to atoms, in fact – and you want to fix it, but just… can't? Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough. For make no mistake: I have consulted the Oracle of Delphi; I have poured over the prophecies of Nostradamus; I have read tea- leaves and Tarot cards; I have analysed the flights of birds, and observed the movement of the stars… heck, I even dissected the entrails of that lamb I sacrificed the other day. And they all say the same thing. The PN is f***ed. No two ways about it: there is not a single conceivable outcome of yesterday's vote – note: I'm actually writing this on Friday, but you know what I mean – that can possibly spell out anything but a weaker, more divided party at all levels. At present, for instance, all indicators point towards a victory for Adrian Delia. In case you're wondering, these include a counter-petition (i.e., in Delia's favour) signed by considerably more coun- cillors than the one calling for his removal; but also the rather non-chalant way Delia himself has suggested he would 'take hard deci- sions' when the time comes – suggesting he has enough inside information to know he's going to have a few heads to affix to his battlements – and also the last-minute, somewhat panicky attempts to remind us all of his dodgy financial situation, his family problems, etc. But I admit that at least two of those are speculative. So, tell you what: let's take the least likely scenario first. Let's suppose that Delia loses that vote by a hefty margin. Part of the problem with that scenario is that… Jeeze, not even Nostradamus himself could possibly hope to entangle it. What would it even mean, anyway? Delia would presumably have to of- fer his resignation instantly… but does that translate into certainty that he will? Past experience suggests otherwise. Let's face it: if he didn't resign when the electorate told him to, in no uncertain terms, just six weeks ago… what's to guaran- tee he won't repeat that stunt when told the same thing by his own party? Even if he does resign, how- ever… what then? The party will have to face another lead- ership contest, for which no one has even remotely hinted at any interest whatsoever… which also means there is no clear picture of what cards will be brought to the table, what policy directions will be on offer, etc, etc. And what is that, if not a complete and utter leap in the dark? Besides: whoever wins this vote will only inherit a party beset by the same internal bickering. For unless someone steps in clean from the outside (and… oh, so many ironies… that is pre- cisely what Delia tried to do…) the next PN leader is still going to hail from one or another minority sub-grouping from within the same party. If it's Ivan Bar- tolo (to name but one who hasn't actually ruled out the pos- sibility), he will have to contend with the fury of the pro-Delia brigade he has just ousted. expressed any level of support whatsoever for Adrian Delia over the past two years… he or she will constantly be reminded of those 'bicca blog- ger' comments they once ap- plauded; or the time when De- lia was booed at a Sliema vigil for Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017 (more of this in a sec)... and so on, ad infinitum. the PN will emerge broken