When Bartolo told Sant to go

Evarist Bartolo had told the then Labour leader and long-time friend Alfred Sant not to stay on after the party lost the crucial 2003 general election, the MLP leadership contender tells The Sunday Times in an interview today.

Dr Sant had initially resigned after conceding defeat to the Nationalist Party but then reconsidered his position, announcing just weeks later that he would be contesting the leadership race against Anġlu Farrugia and John Attard Montalto.

Touted as a candidate in that election, Mr Bartolo said he had expressed an interest but told delegates that he would withdraw his name if Dr Sant decided to stay on. "Should I have done that? I think I'm still paying the price for it."

When pressed whether he now thinks Dr Sant should have quit, he replies: "That is what I told him in person, privately obviously".

Following Dr Sant's resignation following the March 8 defeat, Mr Bartolo confirmed he would be running for the top job in the June 5 contest. MEP Joseph Muscat and the party's deputy leader Michael Falzon, who announced his bid yesterday, are both official contenders.

More names are being floated, such as those of the former deputy leader George Abela and MPs Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Anġlu Farrugia, who have not yet confirmed officially.