Ever since Adrian Delia took the helm of the Nationalist party, it has been a torrid time for both himself and the entire organisation. Following two heavy general election defeats under different leaders, everyone knew that the Opposition Leader role would be a tough nut to handle. The fact that the Labour party, in parallel, continued to perform exceptionally well over the past years has brought about several pressures on an already divided Nationalist party.
In this article, we will discuss whether it is just or fair, that the current Leader of Opposition is under heavy scrutiny by his own parliamentary group to throw in the towel. It has been reported that a significant number of the Nationalist Members of Parliament want Adrian Delia out and will not stop until this is done.
Adrian Delia was democratically elected by the Nationalist party members to lead for the next general election. Some would argue that it is anti-democratic that his own parliamentary group is calling for his resignation following a fair election. This may be interpreted as a sign that some individuals of the parliamentary group do not respect the democratic process which took place within the party.
One must also mention that a precedent would be created if Adrian Delia would resign now. If someone were to be democratically elected again, and would face some internal issues with other members of the parliamentary group, would he also be pressured to resign? This is indeed a dangerous precedent which could bring about several years of unstable leadership and inconsistencies which may lead to the end of the party as we know it.
On the other hand, there are arguments which go against Adrian Delia’s leadership. In his tenure as Leader of the Opposition, the Nationalist party has failed to make inroads, with losses in both European Parliament and Local Council elections. His tenure was also marred with controversy related to his personal life, where media reports suggested that he was accused of domestic violence.
This has all culminated in the findings of a recent survey whereby the new Prime Minister Robert Abela has surpassed Adrian Delia with significant numbers, creating a feeling that the gap is just too big for someone who has just started in office. This does not spell well for Adrian Delia’s future within the Nationalist party.
Do you think he should resign? Let us know in the comments section below.
