PN forced to postpone general council due to parliament’s reopening on Saturday

The Nationalist Party has been forced to move its general council due to parliament being summoned for the first time after the general election on Saturday.

A Nationalist Party spokesperson confirmed the general council’s postponement to MaltaToday.

The PN’s general council will see leader Alex Borg confirmed or contested in a process that kicks off, in line with statute rules, after every general election.

The PN statute states that after a general election, if the party is in Opposition, the executive must convene the general council to initiate the process for the election of a leader. The general council must be convened within three months of the official publication of the general election result to discuss the electoral result.

A party insider told MaltaToday the new date is expected to be announced later on Monday.

Borg has already indicated that he would like to stay on as leader and it’s very unlikely he will be contested. Nonetheless, he would still require a vote of confirmation.

In the event of a one-horse race, a secret vote would take place among party councillors only and not members. In the aftermath of the 2022 general election, then leader Bernard Grech had decided to stay on as leader and was uncontested. He went on to obtain 81% support among party councillors.

Abela announced last Sunday government wants to “hit the ground running”, announcing parliament will be convened this Saturday. During the session MPs will be sworn-in and the new Speaker of the House announced.