The government has nominated judges Abigail Lofaro and Lorraine Schembri Orland and lawyer Victoria Buttigieg as its candidates for the European Court of Human Rights.

The nominations became necessary as Judge Vincent A. De Gaetano’s term will expire towards the end of September.

The government said in a statement the choice of the three candidates was made following a public call.

It said that, on the basis of these nominations, the process will now start by the entities concerned, in line with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and a number of Resolutions of the European Council’s Committee of Ministers, for a Maltese judge to be appointed to sit on the Court.

The candidate acquiring the absolute majority of votes by the members of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly would be declared elected as the Maltese judge to sit on the Court.

The results would be publicly announced by the assembly’s president.

The government thanked Judge de Gaetano for his service and useful work in the court.