Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/847822
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2017 News 7 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 "These people, like me, feel that the Par- ty has taken them for granted, assuming wrongly that we will just continue voting PN because that is what we always did." Fenech argues that party loy- alty "is dwindling fast" and that committed Catholics and Christians were not going to be silenced: " I assure you that the less colourful silent 'Catholic/ Christian' vote is far more influ- ential than any other lobby. The only difference is that it has not yet been mobilized effectively as happens in other countries, because to date these people did not feel the need for such a mo- bilization as they found a home in the PN." Gay marriage 'fiasco' not a surprise Fenech dubbed the position of the Marriage Equality Bill "a fiasco", stating that "the mis- handling of this situation by the leadership is not surprising". "You have brought the party to a lose-lose scenario and it seems many of you cannot even see it." Fenech insisted that the party should have held a mature dis- cussion on the Bill, "as it should have had before the commit- ment was entered into the elec- toral programme". Somewhat exasperated, Fenech writes that presenting over 80 amendments to the Bill was use- less, expecting the government to have some sort of dialogue at committee stage. "If we really believed this, we have still not learnt who Joseph Muscat is, who on this issue with continue sowing division. We played per- fectly into Joseph's hand once again." Fenech almost questions why some of the PN MPs gave apol- ogetic speeches in parliament for abstaining in the civil union vote, "for which I, and I know many of you, have no regrets be- cause it was the right thing to do since we did not agree with the adoption of children". 'Malta is not liberal' Fenech insisted that the gay community will not switch back to the PN: "Joseph Muscat is their kingpin who on this issue not only gave / and will continue to give all they want irrespective of what we see as consequences – but also managed to silence the Nationalist Party." He argued that the PN was now losing the Christian vote as well, with its crusade against (PN MP) Edwin Vassallo, who wants to vote against the Bill. "These voters were given some hope that there is still someone in the PN that represents them. If Edwin does not remain con- sistent to his vote, then Edwin will be perceived as having been forced to comply and that the party wants to silence their op- position." Fenech wrote that Maltese so- ciety is not liberal: "Your circle of friends may be and possibly many voters in the more afflu- ent constituencies, the media that wants to sell this idea – but many of you well know that your Nationalist voters are not happy at all with what is happening and there are more people with a certain conscience in our society then we want to believe." No discussion on electoral programme The electoral programme was not discussed before being pre- sented to the General Council in a conclusive format, and pub- lished less than two weeks before the election. "What did the PN want? That half the candidates do not con- test – at that point I well under- stood the candidates who suf- fered in silence and moved on." Fenech has argued that the electoral programme does not bind the parliamentary group in voting in favour of the Bill, and not only because the introduc- tion of gay marriage "is not just a change in title". He reiterated that the issue at the last general election was corruption, and not gay marriage. "I urge you to be more analyti- cal of what happened elector- ally and where a 100% YES to the marriage amendments vote leaves the Party. The LGBTIQ community may be giving some of you the impression that this will appease the PN with their voters, but I know first-hand, that they know they are just be- ing used for votes by both par- ties – however as long as they get what they want it suits them fine. "They know that neither Jo- seph nor the PN are genuine about their convictions and that the PL and PN are just after their votes." Compromise and avoid a split Fenech has urged the party to compromise, instead of impos- ing a decision. The appeal not to split: "If this inflexibility is because there are far more than one who hold Edwin's position, then this is a mockery of de- mocracy and shows how wrong the party was in putting it in the electoral programme in the first place, ignoring this division. Find a compromise solution." In the letter, Fenech struggles to understand why the PN does not want to allow a free vote. He argues that giving a free vote will allow both the LGBTIQ community and the Christian voters know who represents them within the party. Fenech's last word Fenech, who in 2012 contested the PN deputy leadership elec- tion against Simon Busuttil, said he holds no ambitions to return to politics. But he parts with a word of advice: "For those of you who simply want to say 'we don't care', then good luck and enjoy your ex- tended years in opposition and enjoy playing into Joseph Mus- cat's hands." "Manifesto should not bind MPs" - Fenech Edwin Vassallo (left) said that Simon Busuttil is 'an accomplice in the suppression of religious freedom'