Updated | PL picks Lydia Abela, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi takes offence

Updated at 5:42pm with comments from Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.

Weekly newspaper Illum reports how the decision was taken because PL leadership wants to grant Abela, the Party’s executive secretary more ‘public space’ and exposure.

“It is not simply because she’s attractive, but she also knows how to speak well,” there were some who argued, Illum reports.

The paper also cites source close to the PL who said the decision represents a bid to grant exposure to new faces, especially in media discussions, and not rely on the same figures.

In the meantime, Illum adds that Zrinzo Azzopardi has not been seen around the PL’s HQ for a number of days – a move that was interpreted has a manifestation of his discontent at being passed over.

In comments to MaltaToday, the Labour party denied the contents of the article published in Illum. "Labour today has a team of administration officials who work in tandem and are equally able to represent Labour's views. The allegations made by your paper are completely incorrect since Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi was fully supportive of Dr Lydia Abela's participation in Dissett," a PL spokesperson said.

"It is not true that Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi stayed away from the Labour Headquarters during the past week. On the contrary he has diligently performed his duties as he has always done since he was elected as president."

READ MORE in Illum’s digital edition.