Mario de Marco and Francis Zammit Dimech have dropped out of the PN leadership race, effectively confirming Simon Busuttil as the next leader of the Nationalist Party.

Dr Busuttil won the first round of the leadership election with 50.3 per cent of the vote.

Dr de Marco was runner up with 38.5 per cent, with the remainder being shared by Francis Zammit Dimech and Raymond Bugeja at 6 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Mr Bugeja was eliminated automatically.

A second round of voting will still have to take place on Wednesday since a candidate needs a two-thirds majority to be appointed party leader.

In a brief address, Dr de Marco said the contest was over and this was a moment of unity.

The result, he said, spoke for itself and had to be respected. He was always taught to respect the will of the majority, he said to applause.

This, he said was the time for change and renewal within the party so that it could regain the trust of the people.

He paid tribute to Dr Gonzi, describing him as a true gentleman.

Dr de Marco thanked the councillors and said the four weeks of the electoral campaign had been a time where he learnt a lot from the councillors - who were a reflection of Maltese society.

He thanked them for their enthusiasm, particularly those in the south, who despite being in the majority, were true Nationalists who gave their all for the party. He also thanked the Gozitans.

He urged all the councillors to back Dr Busuttil and said he would be voting for him on Wednesday. He would also continue to work loyally and with commitment to the party and its leader.

Dr de Marco also thanked his wife Sharon, who had encouraged him to contest this election, as well as his team, some of whose members had also worked for his father and for George Borg Olivier.

ZAMMIT DIMECH BOWS OUT

Dr Zammit Dimech said he had contested out of a sense of duty and loyalty to the party.

Amid applause, he thanked Dr Gonzi for the way how he always put the national interest before any other interest, including the personal interest. He also thanked the other contestants and said he would always cherish the picture of all of them together, taken during yesterday's reception. Dr Zammit Dimech  thanked the councillors for their participation. He said this contest had been a learning experience.

He said that in view of the result, he was now bowing out of the race and would remain totally committed and loyal to the party and its new leader. The PN was a force for truth, a force for the people, and all should work to return it to victory, he said in a broken voice to applause.

The fourth-placed candidate, Raymond Bugeja, who won 5.% of the vote, was automatically eliminated.

In a brief address, he thanked Dr Gonzi for his leadership, the councillors who voted for him and those who had met him. He said he was proud of the party and confident about its future, and he remained ready to work with everyone.

CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE CONTESTING OTHER POSTS

In a press conference later, all the candidates said they were prepared to serve in the party but would not contest other posts.