Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca this morning strongly denied rumours which she said were making the rounds, claiming that she would withdraw from the MLP leadership race. Such reports, she said, were completely untrue.

Notary Coleiro-Preca held a press conference this morning during which she published her electoral manifesto for the leadership contest under the title Qrib in-nies biex nirbhu lkoll.

Focusing on the party, she said she is proposing the creation of a party Ombudsman to give immediate redress to people who had complaints about the party.

She would also promote reform of the party's Vigilance and Disciplinary Board, which, she said, had become somewhat inquisitorial.

Notary Coleiro-Preca said the party needed to be united and more dynamic, based on its traditional social values.