PN wanted Deborah Schembri to contest elections on its ticket

Schembri, who fronted the ‘Yes for Divorce’ campaign has however accepted to contest the general elections with the Labour Party on the Eleventh District, after a meeting with Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

Her announcement came a week after the Yes movement won a historic referendum on 28 May, whereby almost 53% of the electorate voted yes for the introduction of divorce.

MaltaToday is informed that PN secretary general Paul Borg Olivier attempted to approach Schembri and ask her contest the general elections with the PN.

The move was intended to ‘secure’ a liberal-leaning candidate on the party ticket in an attempt to reconcile divisions that grew within the party and its voters following the divorce referendum.

MaltaToday is informed that the PN has started to draw a list of names to approach and recruit as new candidates for the next general elections.

Current MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa have reportedly been approached to consider contesting the general elections, in an attempt to find a seat in the national parliament.

Sources said that the party is approaching a large number of mayors and local councillors and is attempting to convince them to contest the general elections.