TUESDAY, 2.00PM
THE National Party’s electoral college has selected party executive director Marthinus van Schalkwyk as the party’s new leader, the eighth NP leader since 1914.
Van Schalkwyk, the youngest candidate at 38, had the backing of three provincial leaders, the black caucus, and former leader FW De Klerk. He said that he favours “coalition government” and has invited the party’s prodigal son Roelf Meyer back into the fold. De Klerk himself will bow out of Parliament at a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.
In his first public speech as party leader, Van Schalkwyk pledged himself to work with other political parties that share the NP’s policies and philosophy. He also pledged to keep the NP’s supporters part of the mainstream of South African politics. “Drifting into isolation, fed by disillusionment and despair, is not where I will lead the NP,” he told a crowd of flag-waving NP supporters from the steps of the Marks Building at Parliament. He said the tide of history can be turned and the NP will do so.
Making the announcement of Van Schalkwyk’s election, outgoing leader FW de Klerk, as chairman of the party’s electoral college, said only one round of balloting had been necessary, as Van Schalkwyk achieved an absolute majority by consolidating 75 votes in the first round.
All nine provincial NP leaders gave their unqualified support to Van Schalkwyk immediately after the voting.