MEP Simon Busuttil reveals in an interview with The Sunday Times today that he will be standing as a candidate in the coming general election, putting an end to months of speculation.

The popular euro parliamentarian, who polled impressively in the last MEP elections, says: “I feel the time has come for me to stand up and be counted. I’m ready to do it.”

Dr Busuttil’s decision is widely believed to pave the way for his bid to be the next Nationalist Party leader, though he is quick to dismiss claims that he is the “anointed one”.

“I wouldn’t want that to happen,” the 43-year-old lawyer says.

He insists it would have been easier for him to enter the party’s parliamentary group after an electoral defeat if he was merely pursuing the party leadership.

“But if my name carries a certain amount of credibility and goodwill then I want to put it to the service of my party.”

He says despite the PN Government’s shortcomings it is still infinitely better placed to lead than Labour, claiming the country would be knocking on Europe’s doors for a bailout within a year or two if Joseph Muscat lives up to his promises.

Dr Busuttil was re-elected to the European Parliament with a record 28 per cent of the national vote in 2009, the highest percentage score in the EU, despite a whopping defeat for the PN.

See:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120916/local/-It-s-time-to-stand-up-and-be-counted-.437048