Mangion denies Abela's claim

Labour Party acting leader Charles Mangion said yesterday that no member of the party's current administration had asked George Abela not to contest the post of party leader and in return be nominated by the party as President of the Republic.

Dr Mangion was reacting to a remark by Dr Abela when the latter was being interviewed on the TVM programme Dissett on Tuesday.

Dr Abela claimed that when he declared his intention to contest the leadership post, an "influential person" within the Labour Party had sent him a message not to contest.

Dr Abela said: "They know that with my candidature, we can win or have a good chance of winning the next election, and the proposal was for me not to submit my nomination, and the party would then nominate me for President of the Republic".

Dr Mangion said that he was making the clarification following consultation with all the officials of the party's administration, led by party president, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.

When contacted, however, Dr Abela stood by the statement he made during the TV programme.