Pressure is piling up on European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to take over the reins of the Nationalist Party as it seeks a solution after the resignation of Bernard Grech from the leadership post.

Metsola is seen as a unifying factor in a party that has been riddled with internal turmoil and lack of credibility as it lost successive elections, with latest survey also showing it far behind the incumbent Labour Party.

"There will be pressure on Roberta to come over for sure, I believe as European Parliament president she can be the leader of the party. It is her mission to be as neutral as possible, but she has already been highly involved in party politics," a PN official told Politico.

"She is seen as the solution because she is accepted by most factions within the party, her track record and policies have been resounding," added the official, granted anonymity to discuss internal party matters.

Metsola, who was catapulted to the Parliament's leadership at the relatively young age of 43 in January 2022, was re-elected with a wide, cross-party majority in July 2024.  

Her term will end in mid-January 2027, with speculation swirling about the up-and-coming politician's next steps. She has repeatedly avoided answering questions regarding a possible national political comeback.

The Nationalist Party will this evening kick start the process to elect the successor to Grech, who will remain in the post as a caretaker leader until the PN elects its new chief.

Most PN MPs were reluctant to speak publicly about Metsola's position, with the exception of Mark Anthony Sammut who, without mentioning her name, said "one person" enjoys a wide consensus to take over the leadership. Other PN MPs publicly renounced to put pressure on Metsola, but privately admitted that she is the only solution for the PN.