Unless the Nationalist Party does a “Labour” – and co-opt an MP instead of allowing the electoral process to run its course – three PN candidates are vying for the place vacated by Robert Arrigo, who died today.

The former PN deputy leader was elected on two districts last March, but he gave up the ninth, which means that a casual election is needed to now replace him on the tenth district - which was the seat which he kept.

Only three PN candidates were not elected from that district – the rest either made it through as one of the five MPs from the district, or were elected subsequently due to the various mechanisms provided.

The three candidates who can take Arrigo’s post are St Julian’s mayor Albert Buttigieg, former MP Karl Gouder (who was also for a time St Julian’s mayor), and Emma Portelli Bonnici, who contested for the first time.

Buttigieg was the last candidate to be eliminated, and he starts off as favourite. It must be remembered though that all candidates start from zero.

Soon after the election, Buttigieg was involved in a spat with the party leadership when he claimed that his electoral bid was hindered after the intervention of a “fat cat” with business interests. No names had ever been mentioned, but an internal investigation had recommended more protection for whistleblowers.

In the past legislature, a casual election had been held after the death of Frederick Azzopardi, a PN MP. He had been succeeded by Joe Ellis.

There is another way to replace Arrigo. If all three eligible candidates do not contest the casual election, the PN would need to co-opt a replacement.

This is a measure that the Labour Party has resorted to a number of times since Robert Abela took over the reins of the party.