In a right of reply sent to this newspaper, the Nationalist Party has described an article published yesterday about lifetime members having been denied the right to vote in Saturday’s party leadership election as “fallacious”.

Following is the party’s right of reply: “The allegations in the article on the front page of The Malta Independent of Wednesday 13 September, and uploaded on www.independent.com.mt, are fallacious, to say the least. The Electoral Commission does not have and should never have the ‘absolute right’ to choose who should vote. All party members whose membership is in line with Article 38 of the Party Statute and Articles 5 and 6 of the Regulations of the Leadership Elections are eligible to vote. In fact, such voting documents have already been printed and have either been collected or are awaiting collection.

“The Electoral Commission reiterates that, contrary to the impression being given by some individuals, the process is being handled with utmost transparency and in line with the Party’s statute.”