Partit Demokratiku leader Marlene Farrugia said that none of the contenders for the Nationalist Party fit the bill, urging for an interim leader to be elected for further changes to the party statute to be carried out before the a new leader is appointed.

Writing on Facebook, Farrugia said that the government is shamelessly doing what it likes, and the only way for it to be stopped is by having an opposition that inspires confidence.

For the opposition to be strong, it needs a leader that unites the party and build bridges will all sectors of society.

Until now none of the contenders seems capable of doing so and others who are still thinking about it are non-starters as well, she wrote.

Adrian Delia, Alex Perici Calascione and Chris Said are the contenders for the post, although others might spring forward before the call for nominations, which opens today, closes on Wednesday. 

The best thing would be for the PN to change its statute to allow all members to vote, Farrugia wrote.

As things stand now, the PN leadership election is a two-part process, with party councillors selecting two of any number of candidates before all members choose either of the two contestants. What Farrugia appears to be suggesting is that the PN does away with the first part of the process.

This, she says, will eliminate all the damage being caused by several cliques.

She suggests that Simon Busuttil should remain leader until the necessary changes to the statute are carried out, or else the PN appoints an interim leader to see this statutory change take place before the real leader is appointed.

Farrugia says that anyone, including non-members, should be allowed to contest the leadership.