Charles Bonello, the chosen candidate of the GonziPN advocates within PN, faced considerable opposition during yesterday’s vote among the Nationalist Executive members. Out of 88 eligible members, 32 refrained from supporting Bonello, making it obvious that there is great discontent within the party’s ranks.

Charles Bonello, a former personal assistant to ex-Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, was the only candidate in the race for the second-highest position within the Nationalist Party. His candidacy was heavily endorsed by a faction within the party, led by de facto leader Karol Aquilina, whose extremist influence has become pivotal in shaping the party’s direction. Despite this backing, Bonello’s candidacy did not enjoy unanimous support from the Nationalist Executive.

The 32 members who did not vote for Bonello represented a range of reactions, further revealing cracks in Tal-Pietà. Eleven members outright rejected Bonello, voting directly against his candidacy. Three members chose to abstain from the vote, while a larger group of 18 members chose not to attend the vote at all, signaling their reluctance to even engage with the choice presented.

The internal division appeared to have a profound impact on the race. Prior to the vote, two other candidates, Stefan Caruana and Liam Sciberras, withdrew from the running, likely under pressure from the nationalist factions aligning with Karol Aquilina. With both men stepping aside, Bonello became the lone contender for the position, intensifying the spotlight on his candidacy.

While Bonello’s selection was expected given his ties to Lawrence Gonzi, the results of the vote have generated discussions about the direction the Nationalist Party is headed under the current leadership. The significant number of dissenting voices within the party highlights the deepening rift between the GonziPN faction and other party members, especially as the party faces serious, internal power struggles. This internal discord signals challenges for Bonello, as his leadership will be questioned by those who have not rallied behind him. With these divisions, it is unlikely the PN will gain any traction with the electorate.

After the party’s underwhelming performance in the European Parliament elections, there were murmurs within the Nationalist establishment about removing former Secretary Generl Piccinino from his post. Time has proven those concerns to be valid, as a plan has reportedly been brewing to have him step aside, despite Piccinino’s attempts to take credit for achievements that may not be entirely his own.

Piccinino’s tenure has been marked by complete financial fiasco and a shameless lack of transparency on the party’s audited financial accounts and donation reports. Yet the Nationalist Party Executive approved Piccinino’s candidacy with 77 votes in favor, 8 votes against, and one abstention, back in 2021. A much better starting point than Bonello.

If Piccinino, with that sort of backing at the time, turned out to be so bad, what should we expect from Aquilina’s chosen one?

Time will tell.