PN MEP Francis Zammit Dimech and former Deputy Leader Tonio Borg have drawn up a draft of the terms of reference on which mediation between PN Leader Adrian Delia and PN MP Simon Busuttil will take place in the wake of a current deadlock between two opposing sides within the Nationalist Party.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Zammit Dimech said that both he and Borg have met with Delia and have submitted the draft terms of reference. If the leader agrees, then the two will then meet with Simon Busuttil.

The target, he said, is to resolve the issue over the coming days, to formulate a reasonable and honourable way forward for all concerned, and to guarantee party unity.

Busuttil has rejected a call by PN leader Adrian Delia to suspend himself from the PN parliamentary group following the publication of the conclusions of the magisterial inquiry which did not find evidence that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle owned the Panama company Egrant.

Last Sunday, Delia asked Busuttil to suspend himself and is backed by the party administrative council, but a group of 10 MPs have rallied in support of Busuttil. These 10 MPs, including the former two deputy leaders Beppe Fenech Adami and Mario de Marco, are known to be meeting in a Valletta office to discuss strategy and the way forward.

Over the last three days, former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was also involved in meetings with both Delia and Busuttil in a separate mediation effort.