Updated 5.20pm - Added video

Partit Demokratiku leader Marlene Farrugia will run for office on the 5th and 10th districts, she announced today.

Her decision to forgo the 7th district - her home territory - fuels speculation that her partner, former Labour Party whip and onetime Żebbuġ mayor Godfrey Farrugia, could actually contest the election on the PD ticket. 

In a press conference announcing the PD's candidates, Dr Farrugia insisted talks between the party and her partner were still ongoing and that nothing had been decided yet. 

She justified her change of mind to contest the 10th, instead of the 7th, because of the “country’s changing needs”.

“I spent the past six years living between Sliema and Qrendi and I know that the 10th district needs a tough candidate,” she said. “Sliema, St Julian’s and the area have been abused.”

UPDATED: Who's contesting on each district?

Ten PD candidates have submitted their nominations so far. Candidates have until tomorrow to submit their nomination.

She confirmed that Partit Demokratiku had approached Dr Farrugia, and discussions were ongoing.

Dr Farrugia at today's press conference, flanked by deputy leader Anthony Buttigieg. Photo: Jonathan Borg

“I happened to be in the same room, and I know that AD approached him,” she said, adding that there were “several parties” that had shown interest.

Dr Farrugia does not believe that the PN called on her partner, however, PL “obviously pleaded with him” to contest the election on a Labour ticket.

The former PL whip, who quit the post after writing the Prime Minister a strongly-worded open letter, announced earlier this month that he would not be contesting the election for the Labour Party, writing on Facebook that while he considered himself a Labourite "I do not feel I belong there."  

Godfrey Farrugia.