Former prime minister Alfred Sant is opting to avoid making public comments during this election campaign, which will not be seeing him seek re-election to the Maltese parliament.

Dr Sant was the party’s leader between 1992 and 2008, and was Malta’s Prime Minister between 1996 and 1998. As PL leader, he contested four elections, winning the first and losing the other three in 1998, 2003 and 2008. He also lost the referendum leading up to Malta’s European Union membership in 2003.

Dr Sant's governmwnt was shortlived, lasting only 22 months after a fall-out with another former party leader, Dom Mintoff.

He resigned the party’s leadership after the 2008 general election, and has taken a back seat since then. Unlike other Labour MPs, he was not made an official spokesman for any particular issue, although he still actively participated in parliamentary debates, particularly on matters related to the EU.

Late last year, he declared his intention to contest the 2014 European Parliament elections, and confirmed he would not contest the coming general election.

Given his unique position – as a former prime minister who is still active in politics, within a party that has changed considerably since his leadership – The Malta Independent requested an interview, but the reticent Dr Sant politely declined, explaining that he preferred to refrain from making public comments during the electoral campaign.