The President of the Republic has commissioned the Electoral Commission to hold a casual election in the second electoral district following the resignation of former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Muscat submitted his resignation to Parliament on Monday, and it came as a surprise to all those present.

"The Writ is being published in today's government gazette. The Electoral Commission therefore notifies that it shall be receiving candidates' nominations for a casual election to elect a member of parliament in the second electoral district," the Electoral Commission said.

"Eligible candidates who contested the second electoral district in the June 2017 General Election and who were not elected, may present their nomination form daily from Thursday 8^th till Monday 12^th October, at the Electoral Commission's Office at Evans Building, Merchants Street, Valletta, between 9.00 am and noon. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Office of the Electoral Commission in Valletta."

"The Electoral Commission further notifies that the counting of votes for this casual election shall take place on Wednesday, 14^th October, 2020, from 9 am onwards."

The two PL candidates on Muscat's electoral district who were not elected to Parliament in 2017 are Stefan Buontempo and Mark Causon.