European Commissioner John Dalli described as “speculative” media reports that he will contest the next election in Malta.

“The commissioner has no comments to make on these speculative articles,” his spokesman in Brussels said when asked about a press report that appeared over the weekend saying he would be contesting.

Illum suggested Mr Dalli was hoping to contest the election to position himself for the leadership contest which could follow should the Nationalist Party lose the election.

Unlike, Joe Borg, his predecessor, Mr Dalli, who visits Malta regularly, has made a number of comments on local politics.

Mr Dalli, who will be 65 years in 2013, when the election is likely to be held if the government opts for the full five-year term, would require the permission of the president of the European Commission if he plans to run for office in Malta.

According to the Commission’s internal code of conduct, Mr Dalli would have to take unpaid leave from his €220,000-annual job and let go his portfolio during the period when he is campaigning on the island.

The code of conduct says commissioners may be active members of political parties or trade unions, provided this does not compromise their availability for service in the Commission.

There have been cases in the past of European commissioners opting to run for public office in their country of origin.

Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding contested the MEP elections in Luxembourg in 2009 but did not take up her seat. There are two MEPs, Louis Michel from Belgium and Danuta Hubner from Poland, who left the 2004-2010 Commission to sit in the European Parliament.

According to the rules, commissioners will have to resign their post once they occupied an elected office.

Mr Dalli’s mandate as commissioner runs until 2015. The Prime Minister will have to nominate a replacement if Mr Dalli runs for a seat in the Maltese Parliament and is successful.