Frendo the next Speaker

Former foreign affairs minister Michael Frendo is expected to be nominated Speaker of the House when the Nationalist Party parliamentary group meets tonight to approve his appointment.

Sources said Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will nominate Dr Frendo and his decision will be endorsed by the rest of the group.

Contacted yesterday, Dr Frendo, 54, preferred not to pre-empt his nomination and simply pointed out that from what he had heard, he was in the running.

Also in the running was former culture minister Francis Zammit Dimech, who, like Dr Frendo was first elected in 1987. But sources said Dr Zammit Dimech would not be nominated.

In the 2008 election, Dr Frendo lost his parliamentary seat but regained it through a casual election after Cabinet was announced, leaving him as a backbencher.

If his nomination goes through, Dr Frendo will replace current Speaker Louis Galea who will relinquish his role to sit on the European Court of Auditors next month.

Sources close to the PN had said Dr Frendo's appointment would give Dr Gonzi the option to co-opt a new MP, most probably a candidate on the ninth district (which comprises Swieqi, San Ġwann, Għargħur, Madliena, Msida and Ta' Xbiex) where Dr Frendo had contested.