Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/721047
6 JAMES DEBONO IT is no secret that rank and file Nationalists are not over the moon about the electoral pros- pects of Simon Busuttil. If bets are taken now, few even among PN stalwarts would bet on the PN leader ever becoming Prime Minister. But Labour's current spin that Busuttil faces an imminent in- ternal leadership challenge is not grounded in reality and can be seen as an attempt to desta- bilise the PN leader on the eve of the PN's annual independ- ence day celebrations – which normally re-opens the political season after the summer lull. It is probably the end of summer appointment for which Busuttil has been preparing for weeks. The Independence Day cel- ebration is traditionally an oc- casion where PN leaders are expected to recharge the batter- ies of the party's most earnest supporters. It provides an occa- sion for Busuttil to restore the morale of the troops after the disappointment they felt seeing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat weather the Panama story which had filled them with hope that the party had become electable again. It is no surprise that the PL wants to spoil the party. Over the past days Labour's spin ma- chine has been busy highlight- ing dissent on the PN benches with Glenn Bedingfield claim- ing that nine Nationalist MPs are 'not happy' with Busuttil. A meeting of the parliamenta- ry group called by Simon Busut- til to discuss the bribery allega- tions surrounding the issuance of medical visas, has also been depicted by Labour news web- site ONE as one where Busuttil will ask his MPs whether they still have faith in him to lead the party. A statement by the Prime Minister's own office claimed that Busuttil summoned an ur- gent parliamentary group meet- ing in light of his "increasingly precarious" position as leader of the Nationalist Party. After Panamagate Busuttil may well have gone overboard on Panamagate in expecting the government to crumble in the throes of the devastating revelations. Smelling the chance of fi- nally asserting his leader- ship Busuttil called two na- tional protests, called for a no-confidence vote in the government and backed two other no-confidence motions, without seeing any significant surge in opinion polls. Muscat still scraped through, def ying public opinion by retain- maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2016 News Why Labour is spinning a leadership Many rank and file PN voters openly acknowledge that Busuttil is not the best leader their party can have. But if Busuttil is so unelectable why does Labour appear so enthusiastic for a leadership change in the PN? SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO RECEIVE BREAKING NEWS Go to www.maltatoday.com.mt and get SMS alerts