Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532664
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 FEBRUARY 2025 4 INTERVIEW Michael Piccinino: 'The Nationalist Party is in its strongest position in years' Michael Piccinino has served as the Nationalist Party's secretary general for almost four years, but will be stepping down to contest the general election on the the fourth district. When he first announced his depar- ture from the role last summer, it was Karl Gouder who rose to the occasion and expressed an interest in becoming the next secretary general. However, Gouder's untimely death meant the process had to be put on hold. "Karl's passing had a profound impact on his colleagues in the party," Piccini- no tells me when I broach the subject. "He was an integral part of our team, and his passing was a great loss – not just professionally but also personally. Many of his colleagues saw him as a friend, not just a boss." His death prompted the party to im- plement internal measures to foster a stronger sense of unity and support among employees. The Nationalist Party is one of Malta's largest political parties, but Piccinino admits that there have been shortcom- ings on their part, particularly when it comes to the party's financial situation. He says the party's auditor is still re- viewing the outstanding accounts and although he insists the matter will be resolved in the coming months he de- clines to give a clear idea of when the accounts can be expected to be pub- lished. He also says the party's financial chal- lenges do not reflect their ability to lead the country or manage the country's financial matters. "It is ironic for the Prime Minister to criticise us when his own party's media company has signifi- cant outstanding debts," he says. On allegations of missing national in- surance contributions, an issue raised recently by former employee-turned La- bour propagandist Karl Stagno Navarra, Piccinino admits there had been a prob- lem with delayed contributions. "In 2013, everyone was aware that the party had outstanding payments dating back several years. Since then, we have made significant efforts to address these financial issues, including ensuring that employee payments are up to date," he says. Piccinino feels that the Nationalist Party today is very different from what it was when he became its secretary general. As he makes way for a succes- sor, he believes the next secretary gen- eral must continue to strengthen the organisation while ensuring that the party's message reaches people. The Nationalist Party's outgoing secretary general speaks to NICOLE MELIAK about his decision to step down, the party's financial hurdles, and his faith in Bernard Grech's leadership.