Updated 1.50pm with Zammit Dimech nomination

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant submitted his nomination for the European elections on behalf of the Labour Party on Saturday saying this will be the last election he will be contesting.

“This will be my last political campaign,” the MEP said after presenting his nomination in Naxxar.

Dr Sant said he is contesting the European elections after being convinced that everyone should be “on deck” to achieve two important targets at the European Parliament.

“We must counter with truth the mudslinging campaign at the European Parliament. This campaign was supported with the active help of local political forces aimed at tarnishing Malta’s reputation in Europe and elsewhere. Secondly we will work incessantly to create a social conscience in Europe and to give our utmost to eradicate inequalities across the continent," Dr Sant said.

Dr Sant served as prime minister between 1996 and 1998, where he infamously froze Malta's EU application, before losing three successive general elections, the last in 2008 with a wafer-thin majority. 

Dr Sant thanked Alison Zerafa Civelli, Helena Dalli, Christian Zammit and Joe Debono Grech for endorsing his nomination.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had urged Dr Sant to contest the European elections.

“Malta needs Alfred Sant. Alfred has the experience and the vision to represent Malta at the European Parliament. We cannot afford to lose his presence at the European Parliament... I followed his interventions at the European Parliament to defend Malta, to defend me personally, to defend the Labour Party and above all to defend Malta,” Dr Muscat had said.

Watch: Alfred Sant ‘still doubts’ Konrad Mizzi’s statements but...

MEP Roberta Metsola

'Our job is not yet finished'

Meanwhile, popular MEP Roberta Metsola also submitted her nomination on behalf of the Nationalist Party.

Speaking after the submission, Dr Metsola said: "I will keep working for the Malta and Gozo we all want to see, where injustice is always fought and impunity ends. We want to make all Europeans, especially those in Malta and Gozo, to feel secure in their communities. We have to make the environment a priority and build on our EU single-use plastic ban, cleaning up our oceans and our valleys."

On immigration, the MEP said more work was needed to build on the achievements so far and ensure fairness with those in need of protection.

Nationalist MEP Francis Zammit Dimech also submitted his nomination on Saturday. 

He said that in less than two years he had served on the European stage, he had managed to achieve important results.

MEP Francis Zammit Dimech

Earlier this week the European Parliament adopted with a strong vote a new law he negotiated to safeguard the interest of SMEs using online platforms to reach customers which will lead to better deals for consumers.

Dr Zammit Dimech has also worked on various health issues specifically to step up the fight against cancer and to increase services for diabetics and also strengthened EU wide whistleblowers legislation and worked to improve working conditions.

He promised that health and its digital dimension will be one of his priorities if given another mandate.