Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg told The Malta Independent that there is no underlying agreement between him and Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne.
Borg was speaking at a press conference held in Mosta on Monday afternoon.
Last December, Borg took to Facebook to express and encourage the backing of Chris Fearne's bid in becoming the new leader of the Labour party and, thus, the new Prime Minister. Current Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had announced his intention to step down last December, after a number of protests took place due to revelations in the investigations regarding the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, where people who were close to Muscat and within the Office of the Prime Minister had been mentioned. Despite calls for his immediate resignation however, Muscat said he will step down after the conclusion of the PL Leadership election.
Borg was also expected to try his hand in becoming the new leader but he decided otherwise and sections of the press reported that this could have been done so as to avoid a leadership contest altogether.
A contest however still took place, however, due to Robert Abela who submitted his nomination for the post. Robert Abela had hinted at a 'diabolical pact' in a Facebook post of his own - "I declare that I am not ready to participate in any diabolical pacts to buy a comfortable seat and sell out my country, the Labour Party, and genuine Labour supporters, all hidden behind the phony excuse of unity."
In a press conference on Monday, Borg denied there being any internal pact after being asked by The Malta Independent if he is backing Freane in the leadership contest in order to get a higher position in government.
"I am a Minster of the Government, if I wanted a higher position I would have applied for the post of Prime Minister. I didn't, I decided not to do so. Chris Fearne didn't promise me anything, he didn't give me anything, the only person between us who gave something was me as I gave him my support,"
He followed this up by saying that he will be loyal and support the new Labour leader regardless of who is chosen, but added that he has the right to an opinion, such as through his backing of Fearne's bid.
"I am not going to be the Simon Busuttil or Jason Azzopardi of the Labour party. I will be loyal to anyone who is chosen to take the role. However, I do have a right to express my opinion and I believe that Chris Fearne has abilities that make him an ideal Prime Minister to start from next week and if the paid members think differently, I will thank them and accept the result. This is a clean election. I will not only work to be one of the most hardworking ministers, but I will also do everything I can to beat the Nationalist party in the next two and a half years."
When asked if he will take up the post of Deputy Leader if Fearne was to be elected as Prime Minister, Borg said that if the vacancy is open he will decide then and emphasised that it is not the Prime Minister's decision to take on who gets the post, but that of the delegates.
The recent allegations that were made by the head of Robert Abela's campaign on the tampering in the votes for the election of the new Labour party leader was also addressed. Borg said that he has full confidence in the party's volunteers and members involved and that there are no irregularities. "I will stand by the party's statement, the party assured that there are no irregularities and I have no reason to doubt the party," Borg explained.