Malta to have new MEP by end of next week

A new MEP to succeed Joseph Muscat should be elected by the end of next week, a spokesman for the Electoral Commission has told timesofmalta.com.

The European Parliament has formally informed the Maltese Parliament of the vacancy, kicking off the process for the holding of a casual election. The new step is publication of a writ by the President, which is expected imminently.

The Electoral Commission has up to four days to announce the election, five days to receive nominations and a day to check their validity. The counting of Dr Muscat's votes according to their second preference will then take place.

The election can be contested by Joe Debono Grech, Glenn Bedingfield, Wenzu Mintoff, Robert Micallef and Owen Bonnici, although Dr Bonnici has already ruled himself out.

Mr Bedingfield, once a newsroom colleague of Dr Muscat in the Super One newsroom, is seen as being in pole position. Mr Bedingfield and Dr Muscat were best men in each other's wedding.