The Nationalist Party’s executive committee will meet on Saturday morning to decide on David Stellini’s replacement in Parliament.

The Gozo MP resigned his Parliamentary seat earlier this week and will return to his posting in Brussels with the European People’s Party.

In an interview with Malta Today, Stellini expressed his dismay at the excessive partisanism in Maltese politics, noting that he had entered the political scene to bring unity but that he had instead found a group of people who preferred “the politics of arena”, likening it to gladiatorial combat.

Following the news of his resignation, different factions within the PN began pushing for certain people to fill up the vacant seat. The pro-Delia faction is keen on nominating Jean Pierre Debono, who had previously given up his seat for party leader Adrian Delia.

The faction that is close to former leader Simon Busuttil, however, said the seat should go to Gozitan lawyer Kevin Cutajar.

Following the resignation of David Stellini, it was explained by the spokesperson that “there are a number of valid people who can be co-opted for the post”. Stellini’s successor will be chosen during the meeting on Saturday and the name will be communicated to the media shortly afterwards, a spokesman confirmed on Thursday.