Gozitan construction magnate Joseph Portelli is considering contesting next year's European Parliament elections, Newsbook reports.

The news portal says that the construction magnate has discussed his interest in contesting with various peers, and that he is not excluding joining one of Malta's two major parties to do so. "There is no indication whether any of the parties were willing to accept him," Newsbook reports.

It also reports that Portelli hasn't excluded contesting as an independent candidate, "with Portelli apparently aiming to attract sections of the population which have lost interest in politics."

Portelli is often reported in the media, either tied to controversial development projects, or over the football club he owns - the Hamrun Spartans.

Some of the controversial projects he is tied to include Mercury Towers, an application for apartments in Mqabba, his plans for the former Dophin supermarket complex in Balzan