Hermann Schiavone has just been informed by the Nationalist Party he will not be allowed to contest the next election on its behalf.

Addressing a news conference in front of the party’s headquarters in Pieta, Dr Schiavone said he was not being allowed to contest the election because the party wanted him to sign a declaration withdrawing allegations he did not make.

In 2003, Dr Schiavone had received an anonymous letter which led to him dropping out of the election that year.

Later he had a meeting with the Prime Minister's private secretary Edgar Galea Curmi during which they discussed this letter.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono, Dr Schiavone said, had somehow got to know of this private meeting and started saying that he (Dr Schiavone) was accusing him (Dr Debono) of sending this letter.

Dr Schiavone said this was absolutely not the case, he did not commit a crime and did not make any allegations against Dr Debono.

This was the reason why he had been refusing the party’s insistence to sign such a declaration for the past two years even though he knew this could risk his candidature.

“I was asked to make a declaration withdrawing the allegation but I made no allegation so there is nothing to withdraw.”

He said that if Dr Debono felt aggrieved by something he could have said he could have sought other action against him.

Dr Schiavone pointed out that he had met Dr Gonzi in 2009 and discussed his candidature with him and Dr Gonzi had told him to start working in the district.

Asked whether he would remain active in the party, his reply was “life goes on”.