MEPs will not contest Malta election

None of the five Maltese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be contesting the general elections. Asked by The Times/timesofmalta.com to state their position the five MEPs ruled out seeking a seat in the Maltese Parliament.

Labour's head of delegation, Louis Grech, denied speculation that he will stand on the first district.

“Despite the pressure, I have decided not to contest and to continue to serve my country as an MEP,” Mr Grech said.

John Attard Montalto and Joseph Muscat for Labour and Simon Busuttil and David Casa for the PN also made it clear that they will be staying in Brussels until the end of their mandate in May 2009.

During the past few weeks pressure was exerted by both the MLP and the PN leaderships to convince their MEPs to run.

Dr Busuttil, admitted that the Prime Minister had asked him several times to stand in the eighth district, which includes his home town .

Of the current MEPs only Dr Attard Montalto has contested national elections. He was an MP between 1992 and his election to the European Parliament in 2004 and served in Dr Sant’s Cabinet between 1996-98 as industry minister.

According to the EP statute, MEPs cannot be members of their national Parliament concurrently. Dr Attard Montalto had therefore opted to resign from the House.

The next election of the European Parliament are scheduled to take place in June 2009.

(This report was also featured in The Times on February 1)