Gulia, Asciak have change of heart as casual election nominations close

Nationalist candidate Michael Asciak yesterday submitted his nomination for the casual elections, a week after saying he was pulling out of the race since he felt he had no chance of being elected on the 11th district.

Dr Asciak was one of 10 who submitted their name on the last eligible day to contest the elections, expected to be held later this week.

Labour Party candidate Gavin Gulia yesterday said it was the support from his constituents which prompted him to reconsider contesting the casual elections for a seat in Parliament despite having previously said otherwise.

"I am going to contest out of respect for them," he said, when contacted yesterday. Last month Dr Gulia had expressed an interest in contesting the post of deputy leader for party affairs, saying, however, that he would not be contesting the casual election on the sixth district for the seat vacated by Labour's acting leader Charles Mangion.

Asked whether he was still in the running for the deputy leader post, Dr Gulia said: "Definitely. I had signalled my interest before anyone else and in fact I'm meeting delegates all around Malta and Gozo."

The nominations received at the Electoral Commission yesterday were from Christopher Agius and Darren Marmara on the second district for the seat vacated by Helena Dalli; Silvio Izzi Savona on the fifth district for George Vella's seat; Emanuel Agius on the seventh district for Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's seat; Noel Muscat on the ninth district for Robert Arrigo's seat; Christian Paul Bonett and Gino Cauchi on the 10th district for Evarist Bartolo's seat; Michael Asciak, Ian Castaldi Paris and Victor George Scerri on the 11th district for Tonio Borg's seat.

A total of 57 candidates have submitted their nomination.