Labour Member of the European Parliament Joseph Muscat is one of the most probable frontrunners of the hot Labour leadership contest, and he himself confirmed that he will be formally submitting his nomination today.

The news broke in an interview carried on The Sunday Times yesterday, in which Mr Muscat said that he would be formally submitting his nomination today.

While other possible contestants are deputy Labour leader Michael Falzon, Labour MPs Karmenu Vella, Evarist Bartolo and Anglu Farrugia, as well as former deputy Labour leader George Abela, it is the popular MEP that’s in the limelight at the moment. Mr Muscat and Dr Falzon have so far been the two main contenders for the post. And yet there are still more than 10 weeks to go before the new Labour leader is chosen.

Earlier this week, Mr Muscat told The Malta Independent that he was considering contesting the MLP leadership post, as did Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. However Mr Muscat, made it clear that he is taking his time to think about the implications of his decision to contest the MLP leadership post.

“Contesting such a post would be a momentous decision for anyone. I am taking my time, particularly to discuss the matter with my family. My wife and I had twins five months ago, so you can imagine what my situation is like.”

He said many people have been approaching him, asking him to consider contesting the post. “However,” he said, “both the party and I have to reflect on this.”

Meanwhile, il-mument yesterday carried a story in which it said that Mr Muscat has put a number of conditions to the MLP, one of them being that former MP Gavin Gulia and Labour MP Chris Cardona would have to be deputy Labour leaders for him to contest the leadership post.

Incidentally, Dr Gulia – a former parliamentary secretary in the Sant government who failed to be elected in both districts he contested at the 8 March general election – has already expressed his wish to contest the post of MLP deputy leader.

Earlier this week he told The Malta Independent that he was sending out a clear signal that he is interested in the post of MLP deputy leader for party affairs.

The Labour candidate, a former parliamentary secretary in the Sant government, contested the sixth and seventh district and surprisingly failed to get elected in both.

He said he concentrated all his efforts on the seventh district and had to neglect the sixth district where he was sure that he had very few second count votes.

It therefore appears that it is not just the MLP leadership contest that is a hot issue at the moment, but this in itself could also influence the decision as to who will contest for the deputy leaders’ posts.

Although there seems to be a clear indication as to who the main contestants are set to be for all three posts, it will not be before another 73 days that the MLP will choose its new leaders.

The new Labour leader will be chosen during a general conference on 5 June, while two new deputy leaders will be elected on 12 June, as agreed to in a meeting of the MLP national executive and parliamentary group on Tuesday evening.

The meeting, which started at about 6.30pm and ended after midnight, was held behind closed doors and MLP officials and Labour MPs were tight-lipped about the details of the meeting.

Labour deputy leader Charles Mangion was confirmed, by means of a unanimous vote, as the party’s acting leader until a new leader is appointed. Dr Mangion has said he will not contest the leadership post.

On Tuesday, the Labour national executive and parliamentary group also agreed to commission an internal report regarding the result of this year’s general election.