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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella MANAGING EDITOR Saviour Balzan Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 FEBRUARY 2020 10 February, 2010 Enemalta chief denies resignation linked to €25m solar project Enemalta chairman Alex Tranter had to step down from his position shortly after a multina- tional with whom he is linked filed an expres- sion of interest to install solar panels on gov- ernment buildings, so that it could sell the solar energy to Enemalta. Tranter has denied his resignation is linked to the sale of SunRay Malta Holdings, of which he is a director, to the American solar power multi- national SunPower, which is now angling for the government solar energy project together with the Vassallo Builders Group. On 11 February SunRay was acquired by SunPower for €200 million, just weeks after SunPower and Vassallo Builders – a company owned by Tranter's business partner Nazzareno Vassallo – filed an EOI to supply 75,000m2 of solar panels on government buildings. 14 other consortia have expressed interest in the project. Tranter is a co-shareholder with Vassallo Builders in the company Makeezi Ltd, as well as being the director of several Vassallo Builders subsidiaries, namely Caremalta Group, LBM Breweries, and Vassallo Joiners. ... Both SunPower and SunRay were already working together to build Italy's largest solar plant in 2009. When asked whether he was aware that Sun- Power would join up with Vassallo Builders on the solar project, before SunRay was acquired by the multinational, Tranter claimed the two events were unrelated. "I do not understand your question. The EOI submission you men- tion and the sale of SunRay Malta Holdings to SunPower have absolutely nothing to do with one another and are completely unrelated." ... On his part, Tranter is denying any conflict of interest because, he said, SunRay "has no interest" in the project, and that he had "no involvement with Vassallo Builders Group… my present relationship is with Caremalta and Makeezi, who both form part of the Vassallo Builders Group of Companies." Tranter admitted knowing of government's solar panel project "ever since government made it public knowledge", but denied having any participation in the expression of interest... Quote of the Week Delia is done for, but what next? Editorial THE current situation within the PN brings with it a profound sense of déjà-vu. This is not the first time a full-blown effort was made to oust Adrian Delia as PN leader: Delia has, in fact, already survived a vote of confidence, held by the party's General Council last July. Nonetheless, his position has now been severely weakened by polls placing his popularity at a dis- mal 13% – the lowest-ever recorded for a National- ist Party leader. Unlike the situation in July, the PN now faces the cognisance that its hopes of victory under Delia are virtually nil. There is more than merely political animosity in the mix: Delia is now regarded as a wounded party leader… one whose continued lead- ership may even spell the end of the PN as a whole. Moreover, the situation is unique in that an ap- parent majority within his own parliamentary is now openly – as opposed to privately – demanding his resignation. If there were any doubts regarding the ex- tent of internal opposition to Delia's leadership, these have now been dispelled. Delia is resented by what is now a majority of his MPs: a situation which could consti- tutionally lead to his parlia- mentary group recognising another MP as Opposition leader, while Delia would legitimately present himself as the elected leader of the PN. It would be a mistake to underestimate the ex- tent of Delia's support outside the parliamentary structures. It is clear that politically, Delia has the apparent support of the party members who elect- ed him, and who renewed their support in a vote of confidence; and he intends using this influence as long as it gives him strength to repel the MPs' bloc that wants him out. But making matters worse, his deputy leader for party affairs (and acting treasurer) Robert Arrigo and secretary-general Clyde Puli, have resigned their posts at the time of writing. Delia is in serious trouble. The question is: has the stage been set for a showdown between the PN's parliamentary group, and members of the General Council still loyal to Delia? Or are Delia's days numbered anyway as his allies call it a day? Regardless how it ends for Delia himself, the Nationalist Party can only expect to emerge even more divided than before. Certainly, it is to be said that the MPs who have opposed Delia have been unstinting in their efforts to depose him; and that time and again they have reinforced their image as being unforgiving of De- lia's democratic legitimacy. For while Delia is undeniably unpopular, he is still the PN's legitimately elected (and recon- firmed) leader. Questions can also be raised about the reasons for the renewed revolt, precisely now. Indeed, it is difficult to understand how bad polling – as op- posed to actual electoral results – can serve as the springboard for regime change. Delia's supporters will no doubt complain that their leader is not even being allowed to test his mettle in a general elec- tion; but this, too, in itself speaks an uncomforta- ble truth about Delia. Politically, he is done for. But then, are his MPs any more viable than him at this time? Are any of his opponents offering a serious alternative to his continued leadership? No criticism of Delia can be made without also criticising the dearth of imaginative, forward-look- ing policy-making inside the PN. It is time the party shakes off its Gonzi-era fixation with mid- dle-management politics and liberalisation, and understands its role as a popular party framed within the context of European challenges. Can it be a modern centrist party with a courageous policy on migration and asylum policy, without resort- ing to cheap populism and right-wing scares but by embracing multiculturalism and integration? Can it shun its conservative fixation on aspirational civil liberties such as gay adoptions and marriages, and embrace this new normality in Malta? Can it become the voice of the climate emergency in Malta? Can it embrace the power of wealth re- distribution and not fear the role of the State in guiding the market towards a fairer and more just society? All these policies can electrify the electorate, while still committing to the fight against corruption and justice with far-reaching proposals that instil human rights, fairness and decency in daily life and business. Delia's overthrow may well be a foregone conclu- sion at this stage, but will not be enough on its own. The PN will still need a leader who can gel contrasting factions and also embody these political aspirations. This can only come about as the result of a strategically-planned, collective effort. "Delia should have been man enough to tell us that he had already decided..." Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi draws first blood after PN leader Adrian Delia refuses to take on board his MPs' advice to make way for a new leader MaltaToday 10 years ago Delia's overthrow may well be a foregone conclusion at this stage, but it will not be enough on its own