The four are Beppe Fenech Adami, who is a general election candidate for the first time; serving Nationalist MP Mario de Marco; Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici; and former Labour MP John Buttigieg.
Beppe Fenech Adami, the son of the serving President, pointed out that in his case, he was not only the son of a President, but also the son of a former Prime Minister.
"No doubt that has its advantages. If anything, when you introduce yourself to the electorate, they would have heard of you, or can make the connection," he said.
"The advantage is in being the son of an MP, not the son of the President. In my case, being the son of the President has its drawbacks. I cannot mention my father or have pictures of my father in election literature, he cannot attend my functions and he in not involved in my campaign. Actually, I cannot even have my mother help me in the campaign!"
"Of course, being the son of such a well known personality has given me a platform, but I do not represent my father but my party and its programme. And I am taking nothing for granted. I have been meeting people on home visits for over a year now. One does not get elected automatically because he is the President's son," Dr Fenech Adami said.
Mario de Marco said that the fact that one's father was a former President and a long-serving MP certainly helped a new candidate introduce himself.
"People continue to have a lot of respect for my father, and that says a lot for him. The fact that they know who I am makes them feel comfortable with me and works to my advantage, but ultimately when people come to cast their vote they presumably need to be satisfied that they are voting for a person they can trust to represent them in Parliament, efficiently, honestly and effectively. Having a father who is well-known helps, but in the end people will vote for you for what you are, rather then for who you are. People will ultimately judge you by your actions, especially once you are elected."
And, he admitted, people did tend to have immediate higher expectations from newly elected candidates whose fathers have held senior posts.
Dr de Marco said that his father, when President, kept away from his political functions. His father however, had a wealth of experience, which Dr de Marco admitted, he would be foolish not to take advantage of.
"Indeed he is my mentor and advisor par excellence. I often consult him and share my thoughts and concerns. I always learn from him, especially with regard to his approach and his reaction to people."
Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, said being the son of a president affected a candidate positively and negatively.
"A good opinion of one's father tends to rub off on you, but you still have to prove yourself. People will not throw away their vote and you have to prove yourself. You have to prove you have the same qualities as your father. It helps that people already know your name, or rather, your surname. But there are disadvantages. I have just had a dressing down from a man who felt my father should have done something which he didn't. It's amazing what people can come up with regarding my father, and that also rubs off on me" Dr Mifsud Bonnici said with his usual good humour.
Still, he said, by and large the people of Cottonera respected the Mifsud Bonnicis even when they did not vote for them.
Former Labour MP John Buttigieg had the rare honour of having served in Parliament for two terms while his father Anton was also an MP (and minister) in the 1971 and 1976 legislatures. Both were elected form the same district.
Dr Buttigieg said his father never helped him when he was President. "I always made it on my own steam, he never even phoned anyone and he remained impartial. That was how I wanted it, he had done enough in the political field, once he was out of it, that was enough," Dr Buttigieg said. Still, he said, constituents, especially the older ones, fondly remembered his father's work.
"I do benefit from his goodwill and will continue to build on it" Dr Buttigieg said.
Picture: From left, Dr Beppe Fenech Adami, Dr Mario de Marco, Dr Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Dr John Buttigieg.