The two roles may seem to overlap but a deputy leader for party affairs can co-exist with the general secretary, according to Beppe Fenech Adami and Claudette Buttigieg.

The two Nationalist MPs have confirmed they will be submitting their names for the post of deputy leader party affairs when nominations open today.

However, both rejected the argument when asked if they saw potential conflict between the post they were gunning for and the general secretary.

Dr Fenech Adami said conflict would arise if the party continued to think as it had always done.

“But this is an opportunity to have more hands on deck and do things differently. The field is so big and it needs a lot of workers,” he said.

For the first time in its history the PN will have two deputy leaders after councillors yesterday unanimously approved the change. The post of general secretary will not be abolished.

Dr Fenech Adami said that, with better synergy between the people occupying the different posts, the two roles could co-exist.

“There is a massive job at hand and in the past this rested solely on the secretary’s general shoulders,” he said.

But while Dr Fenech Adami believes there is no need to define the work of the deputy leader for party affairs, Ms Buttigieg insisted otherwise.

“There has to be clarity on who should do what to avoid any overlap,” she said, adding there was so much work to be done that there was room for everyone.

A relative newcomer to the political scene, Ms Buttigieg said she would bring her communication skills to the table.

“I am a good communicator and the party lacks this. I am a people’s person, I can empathise with them and they feel comfortable speaking to me and this comes from years of being involved in the media,” she said.

Nobody has yet signalled interest in the post for deputy leader parliamentary affairs, although it is widely expected that failed leadership contender Mario de Marco will throw his hat in the ring.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com