The Nationalist Party will have a new International Secretary this week since the previous incumbent, Jason Azzopardi, did not submit his nomination for the post.

Dr Azzopardi, who had been International Secretary since before EU accession and had taken part in many delegations to EPP summits, is now the chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign and European Affairs committee.

The candidates for the post are John Bonello, from MZPN, who had already contested Dr Azzopardi for this post two years ago and Mario Pace Axiaq from MNPN.

The recently elected national executive will choose the International Secretary at its meeting this Friday.

The only other post being contested is that of president of the Administrative Council where there are two candidates: Reggie Abela and Paula Mifsud Bonnici.

Mr Abela was the president of this council but since he was originally elected to represent his district he lost this representation to Anna Wismayer some weeks ago, the council was without a president for some three weeks.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici, is a Hamrun local councillor and is also on the College of Councillors.

As this paper had foreseen, there is no one contesting Joe Saliba for the post of party secretary. Two weeks ago this paper had quoted Beppe Fenech Adami as denying he would be contesting Mr Saliba.