No candidate has yet been approved by the Nationalist Party for the 2019 European Parliament and local councils elections, and, moreover, the scouting process has not even started.

A party spokesman made this clarification yesterday when this newspaper sought further information following Frank Psaila’s announcement of his intention to enter the race on the PN ticket.

The former information director, who anchors a current affairs programme on the party’s TV station, divulged his plan on Facebook on Monday and is appealing for volunteers wishing to join his campaign.

However, Nationalist Party sources told the Times of Malta that the timing of Dr Psaila’s announcement came as a complete surprise. Furthermore, other potential candidates still mulling over their decision were not particularly happy with this development, fearing that it would give a head start to the former official and apply undue pressure for his approval.

The PN spokesman confirmed that the party had not even started scouting for candidates for the MEP and local council elections, which will be held concurrently in 2019. On the other hand, he noted that “an encouraging” number of individuals had already informed the party of their wish to be considered for approval but stressed that no candidate had been approved.

He added that in the coming months potential candidates would be vetted by party structures, approached according to the party’s strategic choices and approved in line with established procedures.

However, questions from this newspaper about whether the PN had been aware of Dr Psaila’s intention or if he would in fact be on the final list of candidates remained unanswered.

Dr Psaila, a 37-year-old lawyer, yesterday insisted that that he was taking nothing for granted while acknowledging that the party had the final say on the list of candidates, which was yet to be approved.

“I am confident that the party appreciates my good intentions to help and contribute, and trust that they will make the right choice,” he said.