Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Konrad Mizzi is likely to replace Toni Abela as Labour Party deputy leader as delegates are asked to ditch rules preventing MPs from being appointed to the post.

Sources close to the party yesterday said the Energy and Health Minister will put his name in the hat if delegates on Friday approve changes to the statute proposed by Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

They pointed towards a tweet sent out by Dr Mizzi on Saturday in which he circulated a photo of himself posing with veteran Labour delegate Ġuża Cassar in Gozo.

“To party insiders the tweet sent out on the same day that Dr Abela’s nomination to the European Court of Auditors was made public signalled that Konrad had started campaigning in Gozo where Ġuża Cassar’s support is indispensable,” one source said.

It is an open secret that Dr Mizzi enjoys Dr Muscat’s support, the sources said.

“Konrad Mizzi will be expected to bring managerial oomph into the party’s administration.” 

Dr Mizzi contested the general election for the first time in 2013 and is the brains behind Labour’s energy policy. He was elected on the fourth district, obtaining just over 1,000 votes and coming in second behind the party leader.

Attempts to contact him yesterday proved futile.

Possible contenders Edward Zammit Lewis and Owen Bonnici.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici and Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis have also been mentioned by some as possible contenders for the post.

But when asked about his intentions, Dr Bonnici said he would only be able to answer the question “if and when the [party] rules are changed”.

The rules barring MPs from contesting the post of deputy leader for party affairs were introduced in 2008 soon after Dr Muscat took over the party leadership and pushed for widespread change in the party structures.

Dr Abela was elected to that post under the old rules which had made it possible for MPs to occupy the role. He won that election after beating Chris Cardona, who was an MP.

The change in the rules back then was partly motivated by the findings of the Labour Party’s 2008 election defeat report that said too many party officials had been interested in their personal general election campaigns rather than the party’s.

Asked about the rethink yesterday, Dr Muscat said the prohibition on MPs may have made sense at a particular time but after more than two years in government it was time to change. He also denied pushing anyone in particular.

The decision to change the statute will be taken on Friday at an extraordinary general conference after the national executive approved the move yesterday.