Outgoing PN Leader Bernard Grech said Sunday that nobody is greater than the party, and the party exists only when it is united, as the party kicked off the process to elect a new leader.

The party's General Council on Sunday met to kick off the internal election process, with the Electoral Commission confirming that a new leader should be chosen within three months.

The call for nominations will open on Sunday at 2pm and will remain open until June 29, the feast of L-Imnarja, at 2pm.

In a heartfelt address, Grech thanked party officials, supporters, as well as his wife Anne Marie and his children for their support, also remembering his late parents and those who had worked behind the scenes to support him.

"It is not your fault that I did not succeed," he told the general council. "I resigned because I believe I did not lead the party to where it deserves to be," Grech said.

"This is democracy. It was my privilege to lead this historic party, a party that fought colonisation, brought independence and democracy, opened new doors, and took Malta into the EU," Grech said.

Grech said that while the PN had made gains under his leadership - including strong local and MEP election results last year, and key wins on national issues like the Vitals court ruling and the Jean Paul Sofia case public inquiry, he accepted full responsibility for the party in difficult moments.

"It is always the party leader who shoulders the burden in calm and in storm, and that same sense of duty that brought me to the role has now led me to understand that I needed step aside," Grech said.

He described his resignation as a selfless decision to allow a new leader the chance to carry the PN to government.

"We need a party that speaks of the common good, justice, meritocracy, and opportunity, a party that is a better alternative government," Grech said.

Though he pledged not to publicly endorse any candidate, Grech spoke to the General Council with advice for them in their voting process, and his successor: to be a unifier, to listen and respect all, and to inspire collective action.

"A party only succeeds when it acts as one," Grech said, adding that he wishes that the party's tesserati see in the next PN Leader the qualities of the next Prime Minister of the country.

"In my silence, I hope you fill the space with fresh energy and bold renewal," he said, adding that a new leader must be supported in creating new dreams which are reflective of what the people want today, and which puts the interests of the country before that of themselves, with loyalty, love and support.

"Dear future Leader, no one by themselves can make up the party. Whoever the new Leader is, they will find my support, as if they win, the entire PN team wins together," Grech said.

The council gave him a warm standing ovation, presenting him with a commemorative gift as a token of appreciation.

President of the PN's General Council Mark Anthony Sammut thanked Grech and his family for their years of dedication to the party and the country.

Reflecting on his own journey, Sammut said he had first joined the party 21 years ago as a youth volunteer.

"The work was simple, but it was part of something much bigger than me, a historic mission to improve Malta," he said.

Addressing doubts about the party's direction, he said that he has often heard others saying that the PN needs to find its identity.

"But I already knew who we were back then, and I still believe in it today," Sammut said.

He described the PN as the party of the common good, liberty, equal opportunities in education and employment, rule of law, and justice, not just in the courts, but also in how citizens are treated by the state.

"We are the true workers' party, not one that sends out cheques, but one that believes in empowering people," he said.

"A party that never feared technology, that led a digital revolution and now must embrace AI and the next generation of innovation," Sammut said.

The ultimate goal, he said, is to return to government. "To win, we need everyone, from the leader down to the youngest youth folding envelopes at the smallest club," Sammut said.

EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola was not present at the meeting. She had been the favourite to contest for the post, but had ruled herself out. In a statement earlier this month, Metsola had said she had been approached by many people encouraging her to run but firmly concluded that "my commitment and focus cannot be divided".

President of the Electoral Commission Mario Callus explained the detailed internal procedures that will now unfold. Nominations are open until 29 June, and candidates must submit their declaration of interest using a prescribed form.

In a statement, he said that declarations of interest must be submitted using a prescribed form, which can be requested from the Electoral Commission by email at [email protected], or downloaded from the PN website where a dedicated page has been created. The completed form must be submitted by hand to the Electoral Commission. The PN's Electoral, Records and Data Commission will immediately make public the names of those who express their interest, through media statements issued with each declaration received over the coming days.

The Candidates Commission then has six weeks to conduct due diligence, with results due by 10 August at the latest.

Every nomination must be seconded by at least 118 party members, including a minimum of three MPs and five members of the General Council.

Depending on how many candidates apply, one of three voting scenarios will be triggered:

If there is only one candidate, the General Council votes to confirm, requiring more than 50% support. If there are two candidates, a vote is held among all PN card-carrying members 15 days after nominations close.

If there are more than two candidates, a General Council vote narrows the field to two using the Single Transferable Vote system, followed by a members' vote later.

Callus said that voting will be secret and impartial, and an editorial Board will ensure that party media must provide equal coverage to all contenders.

A motion was also passed to allow 18-year-old members with at least six months of party membership (tesserati) to vote in the leadership election, rather than the normal two-year requirement.

Secretary General Charles Bonello said that the turnout and unity at the General Council were a sign of courage.

He thanked former Secretary General Michael Piccinino and Karl Gouder, and hailed Grech's leadership over the past five years.

"Under Grech, the party was renewed, strengthened and united," Bonello said, citing the PN's third seat win in the European Parliament elections and successes in local council races.

He called on all members to act with integrity and discipline throughout the leadership race.

"Everyone has the right to support the candidate they believe is best for the party, but once the election is over, it is everyone's duty to unite behind the new leader," Bonello said.

Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione paid tribute to Grech's loyalty and sense of duty.

"No one is bigger than the party," he said, stressing that the next leader must be ready to inspire excellence in service to the country.

"The choice of leader is ours alone," he said, warning against falling for external propaganda. "This must be a process of regeneration in thought and attitude," Perici Calascione said.

He said that political service means getting out of one's comfort zone and accepting criticism with humility.

"If the PN organises itself properly, it can once again become the natural space for people to put their trust when it comes to government," he said.

The General Council also passed a motion of gratitude towards Bernard Grech.