Former Prime Minister and Nationalist Party leader Lawrence Gonzi will not be contesting the next European Parliament elections, The Malta Independent has been told.

Speculation was mounting that Dr Gonzi could have been one of the candidates to represent the PN in next year's election.

Dr Gonzi resigned from PN leader following the last election, and has been replaced by Dr Simon Busuttil, who has set up a commission whose task is to seek candidates and prepare them for elections, be they general, local or for the European Parliament.

The commission has been formed under the chairmanship of former commissioner Joe Borg and is expected to present a preliminary report by the end of next month.

Dr Busuttil has often made it clear that the first big test for the party after its election defeat is the EP election, for which the PN, he said, must be prepared well.

Dr Gonzi is still an MP, and in interviews he has given he has hinted that he might resign the post so as not to be of burden to his successor.

His nomination was being seen as away to counter that to be presented by former Labour PM Alfred Sant, but the idea has  been dismissed.