Therese Comodini Cachia to contest PN leadership race

Therese Comodini Cachia has told people close to her that she will definitely be contesting the upcoming National Party leadership race. 

She is the only prospective candidate thus far to have committed herself to taking on Adrian Delia in the election, according to sister publication BusinessToday.

Comodini Cachia was chosen by her colleagues to replace Delia as Opposition leader in a bid that was thwarted by the President and has represented the rebel MPs over the past couple of weeks.

She has publicly said that she wants to remain a “catalyst” of change within the PN, stopping short of declaring a leadership bid. But sources within the party said she was miffed after her apparent side-lining by the same MPs who pushed her forward.

Those MPs appear intent on putting forward one candidate to run against Delia in the leadership race, but have yet to receive a solid commitment from any of the candidates considered.

“The rebel MPs want someone who can win the race against Delia, unite the party and give the PN a fighting chance in the next election, which is why they are trying to rally around one candidate,” the sources said.

Negotiations have been ongoing with the possible contenders, that include Bernard Grech, Roberta Metsola and Mark Anthony Sammut.

The parliamentary group is arguing that the emphasis should be on the vision for the leadership.

But insiders told BusinessToday that the debate between the contenders has been difficult and no one is willing to budge or commit other than Comodini Cachia.

Delia will be contesting the leadership election that will be decided by party members. His detractors want to avoid a bruising multi-horse race that will have to be whittled down to two by the party councillors first.

Delia enjoys the support of 44% of councillors, which can assure him a place in the run-off.

“The rebel MPs know that having too many candidates will split the anti-Delia vote and this could weaken the strongest prospects, which is why they are trying to push one candidate and convince the rest to step aside,” the sources said.

PN MEP Roberta Metsola and lawyer Bernard Grech appear to be the front runners in this exercise with MPs believing both can tick the respective boxes.

Neither of the two prospective candidates have committed themselves as more talks are expected over the coming days.

Prospective candidates have until Monday to notify their intention to contest after the PN’s electoral commission on Tuesday issued a call for expressions of interest. The call is open to all PN members.

The call forms part of the screening process that has to take place before candidates are given the go ahead to formally submit their leadership nomination. Anybody who fails the due diligence exercise will not be allowed to run.