Businessman Raymond Bugeja will throw his name into the hat for Therese Comodini Cachia’s MEP seat, the Malta Independent has been told.

Bugeja had contested the MEP elections, but was not elected. He had received over 7,000 first count votes and was knocked out of the race by Francis Zammit Dimech, who in turn lost to Therese Comodini Cachia.

Bugeja, back in 2013, had also made an outside bid to lead the Nationalist Party in 2013 after Lawrence Gonzi’s resignation.

Therese Comodini Cachia’s seat in the European Parliament is now up for grabs, after she took a u-turn and decided that she will take up her seat in the Maltese Parliament.

A few days prior to this announcement, Comodini Cachia had decided to reject the seat she won to stay as an MEP. But, after the negative feedback received, she has reversed the decision.

Both Francis Zammit Dimech, as well as Norman Vella have said that they will contest the casual election, and these three are the most likely contenders for the seat.

Comodini Cachia’s votes will be divided among the other candidates and the one with the most votes, or the one that reaches the quota first, would take her seat.

Comodini Cachia was the last candidate to be elected for the PN in the MEP elections, along with Roberta Metsola who was given 32,000 preferences, and David Casa, who received 19,000 votes.

Comodini Cachia had obtained 7,859 preferences in 2017, and was eventually elected, without a quota, with 29,580 votes.

Other PN candidates in the MEP elections were Kevin Cutajar, Helga Ellul, Stefano Mallia, Kevin Plumpton and Jonathan Shaw.