The PN should have a new deputy leader in a month’s time following decisions made yesterday evening by its executive committee, which set the ball rolling for the election of its second most important official.

According to the timeframe established by the committee, the election will be held between November 29 and December 2, depending on the number of candidates contesting the post.

If there are more than two, and none of them obtains more than two-thirds of the votes cast, further rounds will be held, eliminating the last placed every time until one candidate emerges as the winner.

The party will receive nominations between tomorrow and November 14.

Most of those identified by party sources as potential candidates have so far declined to state their intentions openly.

One possible contender completely ruled himself out. Minister Jason Azzopardi on Sunday publicly dismissed the possibility of contesting, saying that he needed to concentrate on his ministry.

The other possible candidates, Ministers Mario de Marco, Tonio Fenech and Chris Said, Parliamentary Assistant Beppe Fenech Adami and MEP Simon Busuttil, have all told The Sunday Times they are considering the possibility of contesting but have not yet taken a decision.

It is not excluded that outsiders, such as backbench MPs and senior party officials, may be interested in submitting their names.

The Nationalist Party statute lays down that the post of deputy leader must be filled no later than two months after it is vacated.

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg resigned the post on November 20 soon after he was officially nominated by the Government to become European Commissioner following the forced resignation of John Dalli.