Battle for number two PN post still wide open

by Anthony Manduca

With only three cabinet ministers having declared themselves candidates for the post of deputy leader of the Nationalist Party, many others are still undecided and are wondering whether a contest at this stage is worth participating in since there is a possibility that another poll could be held in the near future. The favourite to win the contest is said to be Lawrence Gonzi, the minister for social policy, who is believed to have Eddie Fenech Adami's support. If Dr Gonzi becomes deputy leader and Dr Fenech Adami steps down as party leader in the near future, the former will again be regarded as the favourite to succeed Dr Fenech Adami. That will mean that another contest for the post of deputy leader will have to be held. So far the ministers that have confirmed their intention to contest for the post of deputy leader are Lawrence Gonzi, environment minister Francis Zammit Dimech and economic services minister Josef Bonnici. Four other ministers are seriously considering entering the contest: education minister Louis Galea, home affairs Minister Tonio Borg, transport minister Censu Galea and finance minister John Dalli.

The nominations will have to be submitted by 13 April and the election will take place during the PN general council on 23 April. A large number of candidates will most likely mean that more than one round of elections will be held as as the deputy leader has to obtain two-thirds of the total vote cast by the 800 PN councillors.

The same general council will elect 13 members on the party's executive committee. Once the new executive is set up another "battle" will start - that of PN secretary general with the front runner being campaign manager Joe Saliba, who is reported to support Dr Gonzi's candidacy, the outgoing secretary general.

PN sources said that the candidates for both top posts in the party are expecting a declaration by PN leader Eddie Fenech Adami on who will be the best two candidates to unite the party.

A new deputy leader and secretary general will mean a fresh set of leaders for the Nationalist Party. Should Dr Fenech Adami step down the PN will have a completely new team for the first time in 22 years.