[attach id=253357 size="medium"]Beppe Fenech Adami will contest the party affairs post. Mario de Marco is still considering all options. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli[/attach]
Nationalist Party councillors are this morning expected to give the go-ahead for the creation of a new deputy leader post.
They will be asked to approve a motion put forward by the party’s executive to have a deputy leader for party affairs alongside the deputy leader for parliamentary affairs.
This will be the first time the PN will have two deputy leaders, following in the footsteps of the Labour Party.
The change in the party statute was proposed by newly-elected leader Simon Busuttil, who on Friday said this was the way political parties were run in Europe.
While it is obvious that the deputy leader for parliamentary affairs will be an MP, the party will leave open the option of having an MP also occupy the deputy leadership for party affairs.
The option of having an MP for the party affairs post was criticised by former MP Jean Pierre Farrugia, who said it would be better if the post went to someone outside Parliament.
This decision would strengthen the party’s work and provide more focus
It is unclear what role the deputy leader for party affairs will play alongside that of the general secretary and in the eventuality that the party appoints a chief executive.
Nominations for both posts open tomorrow and close on Tuesday and the only candidate so far who has declared an interest in contesting is MP Beppe Fenech Adami, who will contest the party affairs post.
Second-placed leadership contender Mario de Marco was non-committal yesterday on whether he was going to contest the deputy leader post for parliamentary affairs. “I have nothing to add to my previous statements,” he said when contacted.
Dr de Marco had said he was still considering all options and had yet to make up his mind.
Meanwhile, the PN youth wing welcomed the proposed change to the party’s statute.
“This decision would strengthen the party’s work and provide more focus,” the Moviment Żgħażagħ Partit Nazzjonalista said in a statement.
The movement also congratulated Dr Busuttil and said it was eager to work closely with him with “enthusiasm and determination” for the party to again become the country’s biggest political force.
The first election for the deputy leaders will take place on May 25.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com