Updated | Tonio Fenech to offer 'good choice' to PN councillors

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech says his nomination for deputy leader post will give PN councillors "a good choice". Following MEP Simon Busuttil's nomination last wee, Fenech announced his intention to contest on Friday.

Meanwhile, MP Beppe Fenech Adami, who whose name was being cited as a possible candidate declared that he will not contest the election. Fenech Adami said he chose not to contest as he would rather concentrate his efforts on the eighth electoral district.

Tonio Fenech told MaltaToday that his decision to contest the PN deputy leadership race was motivated by his loyalty to the party and not to guarantee a lively leadership race, as requested by PN leader Lawrence Gonzi.

The minister joins the sole nominee so far, MEP Simon Busuttil who is seen as the firm favourite to secure the spot. On the forthcoming contest with Busuttil, Fenech said: "It will be a contest between friends. Whatever happens we will continue working together. I believe we will provide the PN councillors a good choice."

As in the case of the leadership election, the PN deputy leader is chosen by the party's 900-strong general council, which in the main is composed of Gonzi loyalists.

The winning candidate needs a two-thirds majority of all votes cast by the councillors. This also applies if there is only one contestant in the race.

Asked whether he is contesting to ensure that the PN has a lively contest, he said: "I trust that I am giving my services to the party and not just answering to a call. I am offering my services at a moment of need, just like I did when I contested elections for the first time in 1996."

In recent weeks, another PN minister Jason Azzopardi declared that he would not be contesting the PN deputy leadership race because he could not juggle his ministerial job simultaneously with running a personal campaign within the party.

However, it seems that Fenech, who will be presenting the all-important 2013 Budget in the coming days, did not find any similar difficulties in throwing his name in the hat.

"It was an extremely difficult decision, especially with the budget coming up which is extremely important for this legislature," Fenech said.

"To be honest the European Commission's autumn forecast has relieved some of the pressure as it confirms that the budget is heading towards the right direction and therefore will allow me to offer my services to the party."

Fenech added that he took the decision with extreme seriousness. He pointed out that the role of the deputy leader is to give support to the Prime Minister on the work which has yet to be done in this legislature.

"I took the decision to contest to convince the Maltese people that the Nationalist Party remains the party of change, the party which creates jobs and economic growth and therefore continue investing in education, work and the social sector," Fenech said.

The Finance Minister said that as minister he played a major role in helping the country achieve positive results which have been internationally recognised.

"Moreover I always showed loyalty to the party," he added.