Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1271696
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JULY 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Delia lost a vote of confidence in the executive last week, leaving him a lame duck in one of the party's highest organs. The leader had pre- viously lost a confidence vote in the parliamentary group. However, party insiders have re- ported intense lobbying over the past few days from either side to sway executive members. People close to Delia believe they can overturn the 12-vote deficit in the executive to defeat any motion the dissenters may put forward. Party sources have warned that removing Delia through a no con- fidence vote in the general council may encounter procedural prob- lems because the recently-approved statute says a confidence vote can only be held after a lapse of two years from a previous attempt. Delia survived a confidence vote in the general council last year after the party's dismal performance in local and European elections. Technically, a vote of confidence cannot be held until next year, how- ever various sources within the par- ty are expecting a legal wrangle over the matter in tomorrow's executive. "The probability is that a final in- terpretation of the new statute will have to be given by general council President Censu Galea, putting the former PN MP in a tight spot," par- ty sources said. But people close to the dissenters expressed confidence that the pro- cedural hurdle will be overcome and a showdown with Delia will take place in the general council. Delia won the support of 67% of PN councillors last year but it is unclear whether he still enjoys the same support, following the latest insurrection against him. The stand-off in the executive will be the latest instalment in an ongo- ing battle between the two factions. And acrimony is running high with Deputy Leader Robert Arri- go yesterday accusing Comodini Cachia of lying on TV when she claimed that she never asked for his resignation. At the same time, General-Secre- tary Francis Zammit Dimech con- firmed that disciplinary action will be taken against the MZPN, the party youth wing, after it released a statement calling for leadership change. The party's position was criticised by the dissenting majority in the parliamentary group that showed solidarity with MZPN. "We don't only offer solidarity and support to the PN's youths, but we are publicly promising that once the current leadership changes, young people are at the party's helm," the majority parliamentary group said. Although no clear path exists towards a leadership election within the Nationalist Party, several hopefuls are testing the ground in the eventuality that a vacancy does arise. Party sources said Therese Comodini Cachia, who was chosen by her peers to replace Adrian Delia as opposition leader, is likely to throw her hat in the ring. Interviewed by MaltaToday last Sunday, she did not commit to a leadership contest, insisting that "for the time being" her role was to offer guidance. "Whenever that vacancy arises, and it will probably arise, I will evaluate what my role will be. However, my current role is to unite people in the party and attract people towards the party," she said. However, party insiders said MEP Roberta Metsola has shown strong interest in contesting the leadership and is sounding out party members. Another possible contender is Gudja councillor Mark Anthony Sammut, who resigned his post as executive president last year in the aftermath of the PN's dismal showing in local and European elections. Sammut has been a regular speaker at mass events organised by civil society groups Repubblika and Occupy Justice. Outsider, Bernard Grech, a lawyer, has also shown interest with insiders interpreting last Sunday's visit to the Mgarr PN club as the start of a campaign to sound out the grass roots. However, all depends on whether the efforts to depose Delia are successful. The party leader has shown no intention of stepping down and sources close to the leadership said Delia intends to put up a stiff battle. Who harbours leadership aspirations? Lobbying underway to sway executive Bernard Grech Mark Anthony Sammut Therese Comodini Cachia Roberta Metsola Robert Arrigo (right) has accused fellow MP Therese Comodini Cachia of lying on television when she claimed that she never asked for his resignation. The deputy Nationalist Party leader published on his Facebook wall an email sent to leader Adrian Delia by Comodini Cachia on 6 February 2020, in which she asked for the leadership to move sideways. "This means you and all other members of tmexxija need to move sideways, and then each of us whatever role we have in the party need to see how best to act within the party," the email read, qualifying that the leadership had to depart in an orderly way. Arrigo was reacting after comments Comodini Cachia made on TVM's Realta on Monday. She was asked by programme host Brian Hansford to react to a dig Arrigo took at her after the publication of Sunday's MaltaToday survey. Comodini Cachia said she never asked for Arrigo's resignation, insisting that the deputy leader may have misunderstood the contents of an email she forwarded to the party leader and parliamentary group last February.