Economy minister Cardona to contest PL deputy leadership post

Chris Cardona says Muscat has 'given him the go-ahead' to contest PL deputy leader post, predicts a contest for the position 

Economy Minister Chris Cardona
Economy Minister Chris Cardona

Economy minister Chris Cardona will contest the newly vacated position of PL deputy leader for party affairs.

Cardona confirmed with MaltaToday that he expressed his wish to contest with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who gave him his go-ahead.

He said that he has no idea whether he will be the sole candidate but that he “predicts there will be a contest”.

Cardona contested the post of PL deputy leader for parliamentary affairs back in 2008 but lost out to now-Speaker Anglu Farrugia.

Minister Konrad Mizzi replaced Toni Abela as PL deputy leader for party affairs in February, but resigned the position on Thursday in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.

He has therefore set a record as being the shortest serving deputy leader in the Labour Party’s history.

The post was not originally opened to serving MPs, but the party’s delegates agreed to change the statue – upon Muscat’s request – ahead of Mizzi’s nomination.