Former PN MP Franco Debono has said that he is listening to calls made by members within the Nationalist Party, in a post on Facebook.

Debono, who is a former PN MP but had a falling out with the party pre-2013, posted on Facebook that he was being asked by many whether he will be going back to the Nationalist Party to contest.

"I am listening attentively. I don't look at people's messages just as support but more as a responsibility - these people are urging me to be their voice and I take that very seriously", he said.

"It is very ironic that the Nationalist Party is not realising the situation has degenerated over the years and many people left the party not because they wanted something from the party but because they were not allowed to contribute their genuine and valid ideas, their energy, initiative and creativity within the party", he continued.

"How can I ignore these genuine calls from people urging me to help this country have a decent, credible, united and strong Opposition, which is the most important thing beyond the leadership issue", he said.

Debono, after uploading the ambiguous post, was contacted by this newsroom and asked whether he intends to contest the leadership.  He said that he is 'listening attentively' to the calls being made by people contacting him. He also said that he is still a party member. "What I want to say is that I am analysing these calls beyond the leadership issue, as the PN needs a radical restructuring in terms of ideas, human resources. The changes needed go beyond those done to the statute.  I am listening to these people, but is the party listening attentively to them? We have a situation where a person who is not active within the party has such support. This is not about what I want or what I am going to do, but about what the party is going to do."

Debono is a former PN MP. He had who voted against the PN while he was on the government's benches. He was also responsible for proposing a number of legal reforms which were today enacted.

Recently, PN Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech and MP Hermann Schiavone said the party's door is open to all, when asked whether Debono should re-join the party.

 

Others touted for the leadership have commented on the possibility of contesting, but none have made a clear declaration in this regard.

Roberta Metsola, and Therese Comodini Cachia have both spoken out on the contest, while Joe Giglio was also contacted by The Malta Independent on Monday morning.  Current PN leader Adrian Delia has already said that he will contest.