Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1193631
ety activists and the Nationalist party after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. In contrast while Abela also wants the commissioner replaced, he wants this to be done through a public call followed by parlia- mentary grilling but stops short of seeking the consensus of the opposition. Fearne has twinned his com- mitment on good governance with commitments to address social issues ranging from housing to working conditions. In so doing Fearne may suc- ceed where Simon Busuttil had failed by proving that that good governance is not a middle class caprice but a vital ingredient in achieving social justice. Significantly while Fearne has been keen on addressing a wounded nation by presenting himself as a safe pair of hands in difficult times who is able to reach out to Labour's critics, Abela remains a dark horse, who seems more keen on win- ning the hearts of labour mem- bers, focusing on how the party has gone astray and how "La- bourites" and the party's tradi- tional working class constitu- ency, have ended up with the wrong end of the stick. Abela has also closed ranks, describ- ing protests calling for Muscat's resignation as a "provocation." But what counts in the end is what message is filtering down to the Labour members who will be actually voting. Will they settle for Fearne's more so- ber and policy driven approach to politics or will they be swayed by Abela's charm seeing in him the chance to dream big again? Weighing on the mood of party members is their assessment of the Muscat years. Are they will- ing to endure more austere and sombre times in which the par- ty will be expected to lead by ex- ample or will they be yearning for a fast return to the sky high popularity enjoyed by Muscat? Still Fearne's major challenge is to live up to expectations. For his favourable perception, even among PN voters, stems from his clean image which stood in sharp contrast with that of the likes of Schembri and Mizzi. The question is; how far will he go in cleaning the stables and will he risk party unity in the process of doing so? One major dilemma for Fearne is how to reconcile party unity with change. The massive backing among Labour MPs- including a number of Mus- cat loyalists, who supported his candidature may return to haunt Fearne in his bid to clean up party and government. The past as future? Ironically back in the 2008 leadership contest, it was Rob- ert Abela's father George who commanded greater respect outside the party, mainly thanks to his fall out with Alfred Sant in 1998 and his support for EU membership. Polls showed Ab- ela being more popular with Nationalist voters and Muscat more popular with Labour vot- ers. Now it is Fearne who en- joys the strongest appeal out- side the party's boundaries to the extent that MaltaToday's poll show 15% of PN voters having a greater trust in Fearne than in Delia. Only 4% of PN voters trust Abela more than Delia. On the other hand Muscat won by generating enthusiasm among party supporters while still be- ing seen as loyal to the party es- tablishment. Yet this did not prevent Muscat from reaching out to Nationalist voters after being firmly entrenched as the party's leader. Ironically Muscat had little qualms in lowering the bar to welcome former Nationalists, some with a shady past, in his movement. Will Fearne or Abela man- age to reach out to floaters and non-partisan voters by raising the bar, or are they bound to disappoint by raising expecta- tions of a clean up which will never materialise? maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 DECEMBER 2019 7 NEWS ANALYSIS The Executive Chairperson, Planning Board Chairperson, Board Members, Management and Staff at the Planning Authority wish everyone a Peaceful Christmas and a Prosperous New Year The Authority would like to notify its clients and the public that its offices will be closed between the 20th December 2019 (from noon) and the 1st January 2020. The Authority's emergency service number 2290 0000 for reports on illegal development will remain operating as usual. www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY PL leader's challenge Chris Fearne 1. Police Commissioner and the incoming Public Prosecutor to be appointed after a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament. 2. He will convene a national rule of law conference that would include the government, opposition, political parties, State institutions, and civil society. 3. He will abolish post of Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister 4. The IIP scheme and replace it with a new programme agreed upon with EU institutions 5. He will increase funding for public institutions such as the police corps and the FIAU, and will ensure that they can work independently from the government. Robert Abela 1. Will replace Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar immediately and issue a public call with the nomination will put towards Parliament's public appointment's committee. 2. Abela has hinted that as prime minister he would retain the Home Affairs portfolio under his wing. 3. Supports the implementation of a register keeping a record of official meetings of politicians. 4. Has referred to the urgent need for institutional reforms, saying that legal background will be instrumental in helping him strengthen public institutions if elected leader. Good governance pledges