The Nationalist Party leadership race starts tomorrow and is expected to attract more than just the two contenders who have already initiated their campaigns, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

Outgoing PN treasurer Alex Perici Calascione yesterday said he would be a candidate for party leader, joining lawyer Adrian Delia and former PN general secretary Chris Said in the contest.

Mr Perici Calascione officially announced his intention to join the race in a Facebook post this morning, saying he wanted to build on the positive things the party had achieved while changing "that which needs changing." 

Another possible contender is former PN candidate and broadcaster David Thake.

Mr Thake said he would join the race at the last minute if he did not have confidence in the declared candidates.

Another person who has been mentioned as a possible candidate, MP Claudio Grech, was non-committal yesterday. He told The Sunday Times of Malta: “The PN is constantly evolving. Over the past weeks, some fundamental principles were challenged and this merits a discussion as to where the PN is and where it should be.

“In view of this, one also needs to establish how everyone can be effectively represented within what has always been the natural home for so many. That includes me. It’s within this context that I shall take a final decision on this matter in the coming days.”

MEP Roberta Metsola, who has also been mentioned, said that she was ready to serve the party wherever necessary.

A survey found nearly 60 per cent had no name in mind when asked who they saw as the next leader

Dr Delia, a partner in a law firm and a former president of Birkirkara FC, has never occupied any role within the Nationalist Party. On the other hand, Dr Said climbed the party’s internal ladder from the sectional committee all the way to the Nadur local council, where he occupied the post of mayor before being elected to Parliament and then being appointed parliamentary secretary and minister.

WATCH: 'My country is calling me,' says Delia

When contacted yesterday, Dr Delia and Dr Said said they were pleased with the feedback they had been receiving so far.

Sources close to the party core said some of those in administrative positions within the party were putting their weight behind Dr Delia. Other sources, this time closer to the grass roots, believe that the party members, better known as tesserati, are hopeful for “another Eddie” (Fenech Adami) and see this in Dr Delia.

On the other hand, Dr Delia is being seen as someone who “gate-crashed” the party leadership, as he is a complete outsider who has never held any position in the party. This lack of experience and knowledge of how the party works is something that does not really bother members but is a matter of concern for councillors, who are the first to vote to sift through the candidates.

It is believed that Dr Said has made inroads within the PN parliamentary group in his bid to become party leader.

WATCH: 'I am in it to win it,' says Said

According to a survey conducted by statistician Vince Marmara on behalf of ex-renegade PN backbencher Franco Debono, nearly 60 per cent of respondents had no name in mind when asked who they saw as the next PN leader.

Dr Debono voted against the party in a Budget vote, bringing down his own government and forcing the 2013 general election.

He commissioned the survey after receiving requests from PN sympathisers to go back to the PN fold as leader.

He thought this was far-fetched, so he commissioned the survey to see where he stood.

“Close to 40 per cent of PN voters consider me a valid candidate for some leadership post; 53 per cent of Nationalist voters consider my proposals and criticism while I was an MP to be valid.

“Considering the hostility of the party in my regard in recent years, the findings are even more positive, if not overwhelming,” he said when contacted.

“This notwithstanding, since I am very down to earth, I will not be contesting the leadership, and I think there are valid people within the party who have the necessary experience.

“I think the Nationalist Party should seriously analyse the findings of this survey in any analysis of the latest defeats and what led to the current catastrophic situation,” Dr Debono added.

Chris Said

“The day after I announced my candidacy for the PN leadership, a friend of mine asked me whether I was aware of the size of the challenge ahead and whether I was compromising my political career should I fail to lead the PN to victory in 2022. I told him this is not about me but about the party, which I love and to which I have dedicated my youth and my adult working life.

My experience in politics, my determination for the PN to succeed and the beautiful experience of meeting people on a daily basis give me the strength, energy and motivation to put the Nationalist Party back on its feet, return it to the people to whom it belongs and deliver it to victory.

I am meeting party councillors and members on an individual basis and at party clubs. Together, we are discussing the way forward for the Nationalist Party. At these meetings, I make it a point to listen more and speak less, whilst harping on the need to level the Nationalist Party with people’s needs and aspirations. I aim to build bridges. This is what I stand for.”

Adrian Delia

“The support has been overwhelming. I have been holding meetings in all of the 13 electoral districts, and participation has gone up from a few dozen to as much as 200 people.

MPs have started attending, first just one, then there were three, now more than eight attended one of the last ones.

The excitement I’m seeing in people is definitely fuelling my passion. I’ve also been holding one-on-one meetings with councillors. There’s around 1,480 of them, and I’m going to be meeting every last one of them over the next two months.

From their feedback so far, I can say I’m confident and optimistic.

If there is a barrier, it’s that people don’t know me, and I’m working on that every day. I have a team of people who are following up on these meetings and keeping in touch with people.”

Alex Perici Calascione

“I confirm that I will be submitting my nomination. It all started with people contacting me and urging me to contest.

I made my initial soundings by meeting people and started the ball rolling after I found there was a good enough base to work with. I believe the party has to return to a point where politics is conducted from the bottom up. The party has valid structures but we have to look at the way they are working. From my four years of experience working within the party, I can say that some of these valid structures have not worked as originally envisaged, and this is why we need to reorganise to allow space for members and councillors to contribute to policy formation.”

David Thake

“Based on the contestants that have put their name forward, my answer would be yes. But I will submit my nomination at the 11th hour and only if I feel that none of the contestants on the table are the people the party needs to take it a step up.

This is not about David Thake trying to steal the limelight or being presumptuous. I know this is a massive job that comes with a lot of responsibility and is also taxing on the family. I will wait and see. I believe there are individuals who can do a fantastic job, but it would be incorrect for me to mention names, because, first and foremost, this is a very personal decision.

“The biggest problem the party has had over the past few years is that it did not listen enough to the people. This is why I took my consideration to contest the leadership to my online followers, and I have been evaluating each and every comment, including the derogatory ones.

I feel the party has to understand what people are thinking and feeling. The country is in desperate need of a rock solid Opposition, and the PN needs a leader who can take the bull by the horns, be able to energise the people and get them interested in the party’s message, as well as regain the lost credibility by listening to and understanding what the people’s needs are.”

Additional reporting by Kurt Sansone and Ivan Martin