Updated 6pm- Added video

Alex Perici Calascione has submitted his nomination to contest the leadership of the Nationalist Party. 

The party's outgoing treasurer, who had announced his intention to run last weekend, handed his nomination to the PN's general secretary Rosette Thake this afternoon. 

Dr Perici Calascione will compete against Chris Said, Adrian Delia and Frank Portelli for the PN's top position. Dr Said and Dr Delia submitted their nominations on Monday, while Dr Portelli did so half an hour before the 6pm deadline today.

A lawyer by profession, Dr Perici Calascione has served on the PN's executive committee and has previously contested local and European elections as a PN candidate. He can count on the backing of broadcaster David Thake, who earlier this week said Dr Perici Calascione "could be the leader this party needs."

Candidates had until 6pm this evening to submit their nomination to run for party leader. 

Dr Perici Calascione has launched his leadership campaign. Photo: Jonathan BorgDr Perici Calascione has launched his leadership campaign. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Addressing a news conference at AŻAD headquarters in Valletta, Dr Perici Calascione outlined his vision for the party, but cautioned against grinding operations to a halt to commission a report about the party's electoral defeat. Such an analysis should be made while keeping our eyes on the ball, he said.

READ: Frank Portelli submits nomination to PN leadership race

Commenting on the reasons for the defeat, he said that the PN must understand that the electorate’s frame of mind had changed over the years. It would be a mistake to compare the last election with that of 1987, he said, as society has undergone drastic changes since then.

Asked whether it had been premature for him to bid for the top post, having failed to get elected in the last general election, Dr Perici Calascione said he could count on the experience acquired during the four-year stint as party treasurer. He remarked that his candidature was in line with the party statute which allowed non-MPs to vie for the leadership. However, he would not go into details when asked if there was an arrangement in place to be co-opted in Parliament, should he win the race.

Photo: PNPhoto: PN

Asked whether he would be willing to give a free vote on issues of conscience and morality like gay marriage and surrogacy, Dr Perici Calascione said he agreed in principle that such option should be on the table. However, he said that each case should be considered on its own merits.

In the case of gay marriage, he said PN candidates were fully aware that this was also in its electoral manifesto. However, he conceded that if the Bill went beyond the government’s mandate a free vote could have been considered.

Speaking on his achievements as party treasurer, he said he was part of a team which achieved a financial turnaround of the PN and increased party membership to an all-time high. The party had also gone through the electoral campaign without incurring into any debts, he added.

Looking ahead, he said that as PN leader he would strive to make the party closer to the people and widen its decision=making process.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.