Former Gozo minister Giovanna Debono was pushed to resign from the Nationalist Party after her husband was charged with misappropriation of public funds on Tuesday, but in the end she understood her stepping down was ‘inevitable’, party insiders told Times of Malta.

Former Cabinet colleagues said Ms Debono mentioned that she was mulling over her options in the past days when it became apparent that her husband, Tony, would be facing charges in connection with the “works-for-votes” scandal.

However, in the end the resignation was not a spontaneous offer.

She was a member of Cabinet for 15 years and at one time had the highest number of votes after then party leader Eddie Fenech Adami. 

Her departure also precipitated a move for Chris Said out of the general secretary seat. He will now focus on his constituency, Gozo. Party insiders said this week’s move simply precipitated his departure from the position.

“The reality is that he had been saying for a while that he wanted out, Giovanna’s resignation simple made it happen faster,” a source said.

Dr Said, a sitting MP, was risking the prospect of doing badly at the general election because the demands of the position had left him with little constituency time.

Three MPs potential Said successors

Moreover, one source said, the party as a whole was suffering. “The reality is that Labour is now very strong in Gozo. Both Giovanna and Fredrick (Azzopardi) had announced they would not be running at the next general election and this has implications.”

This realisation may have an impact on who the next general secretary will be. Some had argued in the past that the post should not taken up by a sitting MP or even a candidate, but in the circumstances Dr Said was still considered the best option.

“This time round, we should make sure the general secretary is not either,” a member of the party executive argued. And this time round, this consideration may be all the more critical.

Dr Said’s two-year stint in the hot seat was taken up mostly by the house clearing exercise the party was forced to undertake after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. In the coming three years, the focus has to be political.

Many names are being floated as potential candidates for the position including those of  MPs Clyde Puli, Charlo Bonnici and David Agius.

Mr Puli could not be contacted for comment, while the other two were non committal.  

The assistant general secretary, Jean Pierre Debono, has also been named. However, he made it clear that unless he is approached by the leader, he would not contest.

There are also a number outsiders being touted but their interest in the position is questionable. The list is made up of lawyers, bar one, Pierre Portelli, currently consulting editor at The Malta Independent.

His reaction was short: “My work at The Malta Independent is far from over.”

Lawyers Adrian Delia, touted for the leadership two years ago, and Reuben Balzan, also poured cold water on the idea.

Another two potential candidates, Ann Fenech and Peter Fenech, could not be contacted for comment.

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