Kristy Debono ‘seriously considering’ PN deputy leadership

Kristy Debono, now the ninth district’s most popular MP, is considering throwing her hat in the ring for the Nationalist Party’s deputy leadership role, although a final decision will only be taken after the leadership election.

Debono told MaltaToday she was seriously considering the role of deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, insisting her next move will depend on the wishes and plans of the future PN leader.

“I see myself more as deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, but no decision will be taken before discussing it with the future leader… party hierarchy is very important to me,” Debono told MaltaToday when contacted.

“People are coming to me all the time and there’s a lot of support which has made me seriously consider the possibility of running. I want to keep on building on the contribution I gave to the party in the past,” she said.

Debono however also said the deputy leadership role shouldn’t be treated as “a consolation prize” by MPs who could run for the party leadership and instead don’t make it.

In the past, Mario de Marco lost out on the party leadership but was later uncontested in his election to deputy leader for parliamentary affairs.  

Outgoing deputy leader for party affairs Beppe Fenech Adami has also not ruled out a run for the deputy leadership for parliamentary affairs.

Debono, 35, returned to the House with a remarkable 4,029 first preference votes, in a remarkable showing in her second electoral outing. An analysis of the district’s vote shows that one out of every three PN votes went to Debono.

At a time where Maltese politics craves for women in key roles, Debono wants to be seen as an MP who can bridge with moderates and floating voters.

She described supporters’ calls urging her to contest the deputy leadership as “overwhelming”.

The deputy leadership elections will only take place once the PN elects its leader, a role for which only Gozitan MP Chris Said and lawyer Adrian Delia have so far confirmed their intention to run.

Many are expecting MP Claudio Grech to announce his intention to run at the eleventh hour. What has however emerged is that many councillors, as well as MPs and party officials, are still in the dark over who is the most electable. Councillors consider both Delia and Said qualified for the role, although as an outsider Delia remains the dark horse of the contest.