The PN today starts accepting nominations from candidates aspiring to become its new leader.

Nominations close on Friday, with the election taking place on May 4. So far, only former Foreign Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and businessman Raymond Bugeja have confirmed their intention to contest.

Other potential leadership candidates have yet to declare their intentions but heavyweights Simon Busuttil, Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami have all been mentioned as possible contenders.

Former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has ruled himself out of the race. He garnered the largest number of first count votes after Lawrence Gonzi and Dr Busuttil in the general election.

The election for party leader will be held among the party’s 900 councillors during an extraordinary general council. A candidate will have to win the support of two-thirds of the council members to be declared elected.

Should more than two candidates be nominated, the last one will be eliminated and another round of voting will be held, a process that can theoretically be repeated several times. However, the party has set May 10 as the deadline to elect its new leader.

The PN will soon also have to elect a new deputy leader and general secretary since incumbents Dr Busuttil and Paul Borg Olivier have both declared they will not seek re-election to their respective positions.

More details in The Times.

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