Nationalist Party stalwarts Francis Zammit Dimech and Beppe Fenech Adami have both said they are actively considering bidding for party leadership posts.
Their indication came on the same day former Justice Minister Chris Said, 42, told The Sunday Times he was “seriously considering” contesting the role of PN general secretary.
Dr Zammit Dimech said: “I am in contact with a number of councillors who are encouraging me to go for it.”
He said he and some of his backers were currently sounding out party delegates to see what they made of an eventual candidacy – something Dr Fenech Adami also said he was also evaluating.
“If I were to make the decision I would bring experience, closeness to the party grassroots and people and plenty of enthusiasm in being part of the team to mark the way ahead and take the party into the future,” Dr Zammit Dimech said.
Dr Fenech Adami did not rule out contesting either of the other two party posts – deputy leader or party general secretary – that will be up for grabs in May.
“I will bide my time and, as always, do whatever I believe to be in the party’s best interest,” he said, with a final decision likely within a matter of days.
PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil told The Sunday Times he would not be commenting on leadership speculation at this stage, while former minister Mario de Marco also demurred when asked about his intentions.
“I’m giving it due consideration, but whether or not I contest is secondary. What is important is that the party, while retaining a united front, opens doors to new discussions, people, ideas, frontiers and ways of doing politics,” he said, while keeping an eye on the Labour Party government which was “making sound hollow the pre-election mantra of ‘Malta Taghna Lkoll’”.
Their parliamentary colleague Dr Said, meanwhile, has said he would be deciding whether or not to contest the PN general secretary post in the coming days.
“Yes, I am seriously considering it. I am consulting and meeting people with a view to taking a final decision soon.”
Asked whether he would renounce his seat in Parliament if he were to be elected to this position, Dr Said noted that the party’s “best” general secretaries were both MPs, singling out Lawrence Gonzi and Louis Galea as examples.
“I don’t think this is a problem, especially when the party is in opposition,” he said.
The only other person to have announced his intentions to vie for the position currently held by Paul Borg Olivier is Ian Castaldi Paris, the mayor of Lija.
However, PN sources have also mentioned other possible contenders like David Agius, Clyde Puli, Pierre Portelli and Ann Fenech.
While the PN party leader and deputy leader elections are open to all PN councillors, only the PN executive – a smaller group of party officials – will be involved in the selection of a new general secretary.
With party leadership elections coming first, the new PN leader could have a great deal of influence on who is finally chosen, party sources say.
According to their reading, a new leader might be tempted to push for a “lackey” general secretary – something Dr Said’s announcement at this early stage might be seeking to counteract. The general secretary will be crucial to reorganising the party, which is said to be disorganised and in debt.