Outgoing PN treasurer Alex Perici Calascione considering leadership

The Nationalist Party’s outgoing treasurer, Alex Perici Calascione, is seriously considering contesting the upcoming leadership contest, MaltaToday has learnt.

The 55-year-old lawyer confirmed that many people were encouraging him to join the fray to succeed Simon Busuttil, who, following the party’s defeat in the 3 June election, said he would be stepping down.

The rest of the party’s leadership, including Perici Calascione, said they too would not be seeking re-election for the same positions.

Perici Calascione told MaltaToday that he was considering the matter “seriously” and would not say which way he was leaning.

“I have been approached by quite a number of people over the past week or so in order to give this matter very serious consideration,” he said. “This is what I shall be doing over the coming few days.”

Perici Calascione insisted he was fully committed to the PN.

“I believe that such a commitment requires that such an important issue is approached with the maximum responsibility by anyone concerned or interested,” he said.

“At this stage I feel I can only say that whilst the approaches made to me were both substantial and encouraging, I am giving the matter that type of consideration which is as serious as the subject matter demands.”

If he does decide to contest the leadership election, Perici Calascione will be the third person to confirm their interest, after Birkirkara FC president Adrian Delia last weekend, and Gozo MP and former PN secretary general Chris Said last night confirmed they would be contesting.

Perici Calascione has been practising law since 1987, principally within the sphere of corporate and financial services and international contracts and has acted as legal advisor to a number of leading Maltese and foreign companies and organisations. 

In 1991, he was appointed Commissioner of Justice and served until 1996, when he was made partner at Emmanuel Mallia and Associates (Malta). 

Perici Calascione has worked for a number of years within the sphere of voluntary organisations for disabled persons, serving on the board of governors of Razzett tal-Hbiberija between 1998 and 2008.

He was elected to the executive committee of the Nationalist Party in March 2013 and subsequently elected to the post of party treasurer and member of the administrative council. He was elected once again to the executive committee of the Nationalist Party and subsequently confirmed as party treasurer on 4 June 2015. 

He contested the 3 June general election but did not make it to Parliament.

Alex married MayAnne née Pisani on May 3, 1986. He is father of three children, Maria Elena (March 7, 1987); Veronica Anne (March 28, 1988) and John Joseph (March 29, 1993).