Labour MP needs to make way for new MLP leader

The Labour Party's new leader, Joseph Muscat, is expected to be co-opted to Parliament following the resignation of one of the party's MPs.

It is possible that Alfred Sant will give up his seat in Parliament. The former party leader was succeeded as Leader of the Opposition by Acting Leader Charles Mangion on Thursday.

Dr Sant had said when he resigned as Labour leader, immediately following the March 8 general election, that he would be staying on as an MP for the moment but would consult the new party leader on the matter.

Another possibility is that Dr Muscat will take Joe Debono Grech's seat in Parliament if the latter is elected in a casual election to take Dr Muscat's place in the European Parliament, in which case he would have to give up his parliamentary seat in Malta.

Before being co-opted to the Maltese Parliament, Dr Muscat will have to resign his seat in the European Parliament.

Once there is a resignation in the Maltese Parliament, the President will inform the Electoral Commission about this so that the necessary procedures could be taken according to the electoral law.

Once a seat becomes vacant, the Commission gives notice, within five working days from the date of the receipt of the President's writ, of an election to fill the seat vacated.

Within another five working days after the publication of such notice in the Government Gazette, any person who was a general election candidate in the same district as the resigning MP could submit his nomination for the casual election.

But if no nominations are received for such election, or if the resigning MP would himself have been elected in a casual election (such as Mr Debono Grech), a new MP would have to be co-opted by the members of the House.

In filling a vacancy by co-option, MPs have to elect someone whose interests and opinions were as close as possible to those held by the vacating member.

Members who have been co-opted to Parliament at different times include Dr Sant himself in 1987, Eddie Fenech Adami in 1969 and former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici in 1982.