PN MP Chris Said will be running for the post of leader of the Nationalist Party, making him the second person (Adrian Delia being the first) to throw his name into the hat.

Said, 46, said that he has the energy, motivation and political experience to bring together all those with the country and the party at heart, to rebuild the party and reconnect it to the electorate. "If I am given the privilege to lead the Nationalist Party my main aim would be to make the Nationalist Party a strong and relevant political force, a formidable opposition and a credible government-in-waiting."

Chris Said has said that the new leader of the party needs to hit the ground running. "The task ahead is of epic proportions and there will be little time for running-in periods. If I'm elected party leader I'll be all in, from the very first day."

"I'm very well aware of what's at stake for me and my family. I have no businesses to fall back on and no safety nets. I'm doing this because I love the party and, above all, I love my country. I'll be in it with all my determination, hard work and enthusiasm."

Said was Mayor of Nadur for almost ten years and was also Parliamentary Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister who set up the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC). He was also Secretary General of the Nationalist Party between 2013 and 2015.

Said will now be launching what he termed as a "conversation" with a wide spectrum of people. "I will be meeting party members, activists, my fellow MPs - with whom I want to work as one united team -, the members of the PN executive committee - men and women who give their all to the party - and the civil society. These meetings will consolidate my vision and my programme to take forward the party and the country. I will present the plan once I submit my nomination to become the next leader of the Nationalist Party."

Asked what ingredients are required to make the PN a success, the MP said the party should never stop building bridges. "We need to involve everyone willing to be part of this country's future. Through a bottom-up approach we will come up with the right policies for this country, built around the dignity of the individual, and aimed at creating a society for the many and not the few."

Said described his leadership style as straight-forward: "I will support the right decisions taken by the government and seek ways how to improve them. But will come down like a tonne of bricks on what is wrong and unacceptable. Compromise, yes, but not at the cost of shoving aside the values that are dear to our people. We will reach out to traditional Nationalist voters who left us in 2013 and again in 2017. We need to make them feel comfortable supporting their party again. We cannot be perceived as being the party which opposes for the sake of opposing. Making peoples' life better will be our utmost priority."