Yesterday, this paper carried a story that one of the possibilities being discussed was to group local council elections into two batches, rather than the present three.

There are basically three possibilities on the discussion table. The first is that everything remains as it is now – with three batches of local council elections and an election every year. The second is the possibility of eliminating one group, increasing the period of office from three to four years and holding elections on alternate years. The third and final

possibility is removing two groups and having one election every five years for all 68 local councils.

Sources said the third possibility was proposed by the PN.

Contacted for his reaction, PN secretary general Joe Saliba confirmed that a number of options were being discussed by high-ranking officials from his party and from the MLP.

Asked which of the possibilities was being proposed by his party and which of the possibilities was being opposed by the MLP, Mr Saliba said he preferred not to comment since the discussions were still at an early stage and no decision had been taken on the issue.

Mr Saliba explained that officials of both parties had agreed not to

disclose information about their discussions before a conclusion has been reached. He said the main idea behind this agreement was to facilitate the discussions between both parties and for officials to speak their mind during the meetings.

When contacted, MLP secretary general Jason Micallef said more or less what Mr Saliba had said.

He said no information was being disclosed to the media since discussions were still under way.