Any coalition deal allowing Democratic Party candidates to contest the election on the Nationalist Party ticket will have to be approved by the PN’s executive committee, this newspaper has learnt.

Details on what is exactly being discussed are still sketchy, with a PN spokesman pointing out that even though negotiations were at an “advanced” stage it would be premature to comment further once the talks had not been concluded yet.

“It stands to reason that all the details of the agreement will be made public once talks are over and if and when an agreement is reached,” the spokesman told this newspaper yesterday.

ANALYSIS: The PN-PD coalition: what we know so far

Prospects of a PN-PD “coalition against corruption” were raised last September by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil during the Independence Day mass meeting.

Though talks started some weeks later, it was only last week that the issue was back on the political agenda following a PN announcement that negotiations were at an “advanced” stage.

However, statements by both PD leader, Marlene Farrugia, and her second in command, Anthony Buttigieg, suggested that the deal had been practically wrapped up bar for some “fine details”.

READ: PN MPs did 'unaware' of coalition deal

In a Talking Point published by this newspaper last Monday, Dr Buttigieg went as far as saying they would be presenting a joint manifesto with the PN. He said PD candidates would be part of the PN list but “final details” on how they could be identified on the ballot sheet – be it through a nickname or from the orange background on the PD’s candidates photos at the polling station – had not been hammered out yet.

While this move is meant to increase the PN’s seemingly slim chances of overturning the 36,000 majority with which it was voted out of office by the Labour Party in the 2013 general election, there are indications of an internal rift about the move.

Sources within the parliamentary group who spoke with this newspaper on condition of anonymity expressed concerns that this could turn out to be a “Trojan horse” in case of a PN victory with a one-seat majority.

TALKING POINT: How coalition talks panned out

“This would mean that a handful or even one PD member of Parliament would hold the balance of power in government,” they warned. On the other hand, while acknowledging that such risk existed, a party official recalled that even former PN leader Eddie Fenech Adami at one point had considered forming a coalition.

He pointed out that, weeks before the 2003 general election, the PN was very close to joining forces with Alternattiva Demokratika when Malta’s EU membership was at stake.

“Though the deal had collapsed at the eleventh hour, at the time no such objections had been raised, so I fail to understand the concerns being aired this time round,” he added.

Questions have also been raised on the mechanics of the proposed coalition agreement. One particular grey area is whether PD candidates will be screened by the PN commission tasked to vet all those aspiring to contest the election on the party ticket.

It is yet unknown whether the party leadership would be seeking formal backing, possibly through a vote in one of the various PN political fora, once the terms of the coalition agreement were finalised.

While the PN spokesman declined to comment saying it was premature at this stage to give any details on any progress registered, the sources said such a deal would be put to the vote within the executive committee.

This party organ incorporates MPs and representatives of the PN’s various administrative and political structures including sectional committees and councillors.

No timeframes have so far been given on the conclusion of the coalition talks.

Though Labour’s five-year term in government expires in March next year, speculation is mounting that the country could go to the polls earlier, possibly even this summer.

See Marlene Farrugia's comments in the comments section below. 

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