PN candidates push back against post-election criticism

Nationalist MPs and candidates challenged parts of an internal review that said some contenders failed to connect effectively with voters. They accepted room for improvement but argued the election arrived a year early, limiting time to cover localities, and said responsibility for defeat could not rest on candidates alone. One participant questioned whether consulting paid-up members rather than non-voters and supporters of other parties produced representative evidence. The review had called for stronger grassroots work, engagement with naturalised citizens and a more modern, inclusive image as the PN rebuilds.