EU Commissioner Joe Borg has ruled out contesting March's general election on behalf of the Nationalist Party.
A senior aide in his Cabinet told The Times Dr Borg will be sticking to the decision he made on being appointed European Commissioner not to take part in national elections while occupying his position at the top of the EU executive.
Dr Borg, whose mandate in the Commission ends in mid-2009, was one of the strongest Nationalist candidates during the 2003 election, contesting both the ninth and 10th electoral districts and polling a total of 8,015 votes.
His absence in the ninth district will be compensated by PN leader Lawrence Gonzi who decided to opt for the ninth district together with his traditional district, the second, a Labour stronghold.
Technically, Dr Borg can contest the election while retaining his post in Brussels. However, his aide said he had chosen to keep focusing on his EU portfolio of fisheries and maritime affairs.
Dr Borg's decision arrived amid strong rumours in Brussels that one of his colleagues, Italian Commissioner Franco Frattini, will be taking leave of absence to contest the upcoming general election in Italy, scheduled for mid-April. Mr Frattini, who heads the influential and high profile portfolio of justice and home affairs, has not yet officially confirmed whether he will be temporarily standing down from the EU executive to become a candidate for Forza Italia, headed by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. However, Commission sources told The Times Mr Frattini will probably be heading for Rome soon to launch his campaign.
The Italian media is tipping Mr Frattini for the post of Justice or Home Affairs Minister, should Mr Berlusconi win, as opinion polls predict.
When asked during a press conference in Brussels yesterday, Commission officials declined to comment on whether Mr Frattini might be about to pack his bags.
Mr Frattini's move, if it materialises, will not be the first by a commissioner.
Last year, Louis Michel, the Development Commissioner, briefly suspended himself from his EU post to take part in the Belgian election. After being elected, giving a boost to his party, he continued to serve as a commissioner without taking up his Belgian parliamentary seat.
EU commissioners are appointed by the President of the European Commission upon nomination by their national government. Normally, a commissioner serves a five-year term. However, many commissioners are re-nominated for a second term.
Malta will have to nominate its candidate at the beginning of 2009.