The Nationalist Party will today start the process of electing its leader and, as approved in a general council last year, will return to having just one deputy leader, reversing a change that was introduced under then leader Simon Busuttil in 2013.

Party leader Bernard Grech is expected to be the sole contestant to retain the top post in spite of the defeat in the March election, the biggest in history.

Elections for the leadership are a necessary step in accordance with the party statute. But unlike what happened after both the 2013 and 2017 defeats, no change in leadership is expected this time round.

Lawrence Gonzi had resigned in 2013 and was succeeded by Simon Busuttil, who in turn quit after the 2017 debacle to be replaced by Adrian Delia. A group of rebel MPs had then forced a leadership contest in 2020, in which Delia was ousted to be substituted by Grech.

In the last nine years the PN has had three changes in the leadership, more than it had had in the previous 50 years. Notwithstanding the March defeat, the third in a row for the PN, Grech should be retaining his position.

Soon after losing the election, Grech had said that he intends to seek to retain his post. No other candidate has come forward or expressed interest in taking over the reins of the party.

The party will be convening its general council today, with nominations for the post of party leader to be open for a week. In accordance with the PN statute, any member of the party is eligible to contest the election. Once a party member expresses their interest to contest, a series of checks are made by the party’s electoral commission before their nomination is accepted or rejected.

A final requirement for potential party leadership nominees is to have their nomination seconded by at least three party MPs, five local council members, 10 members of the executive committee, 50 members of the general council and 50 party members.

Once the nominations close the party’s electoral commission is faced with two options, an uncontested election, or an election of two or more candidates submit an application to contest for the post.

If Grech will not be contested, the vote falls in the hands of the general council, where he will have to obtain 50% + 1 votes. This is referred to as the vote of confidence by the general council of the party. If Grech does not get 50% +1 of the votes, another election is called.

If a second candidate throws in their hat, then the party members would be required to make their choice. If there are three or more candidates, a secret vote will be held within the general council to whittle down the contenders to two, following which the party members would be asked to choose their leader.

With regard to the deputy leader position, the PN is to go back to its one deputy leader system as was the case before the 2013 elections. This election will be held after the one for the leadership.

The idea of having two deputy leaders was put forward by then PN leader Simon Busuttil, who had stated at the time that the idea was for the party to be led by a team. “It is important to have as many people as possible involved in order for no one to be excluded,” Busuttil had said.

After this decision the changes were approved in the following general council meeting and for almost nine years, the party has had two deputy leaders.

The first two PN deputy leaders under the revised statute of 2013 were Beppe Fenech Adami and Mario de Marco. Fenech Adami and de Marco had then resigned with Busuttil after the 2017 election defeat.

Fenech Adami and de Marco were then succeeded by current deputy leaders Robert Arrigo and David Agius.

After the March electoral defeat Arrigo, announced that he will not be contesting the deputy leader role.

With the party to now have one deputy leader, it is still unclear whether Agius will be contesting.