The PN Executive Committee has approved a group of 16 candidates for the next general election. Thirteen of them will be  contesting for the first time.

The candidates approved this evening are:  Amanda Abela, Frans Agius, Ivan Bartolo, Lawrence Bonavia, Roderick Bugeja, Elaine Camilleri, John Baptist Camilleri, Raymond Caruana, Noel Galea, Alex Mangion, George Muscat, Matthew Paris, Maria Portelli, Dorian Sciberras, Liam Sciberras and David Thake.

PN leader Simon Busuttil said it was clear that the Nationalist Party’s call for honest politics was attracting new people who wished to engage themselves in public life and offer their service.

"This is another step towards renewal of the party,” he said.

This was the third group of candidates approved by the Nationalist Party, with 48 candidates approved so far. More candidates will be approved in the coming months, the PN said.