Meetings underway for Nationalist MPs to vacate seat for new leader Adrian Delia

Former Naxxar mayor Maria Deguara again touted as possible MP who will vacate seat for Adrian Delia’s co-option to the House

Close embrace: Maria Deguara whispers in Adrian Delia's ears during a round of hugs with MPs on Sunday's first appearance as party leader
Close embrace: Maria Deguara whispers in Adrian Delia's ears during a round of hugs with MPs on Sunday's first appearance as party leader

A two-hour meeting took place on Sunday with the newly-elected Nationalist MP Maria Fatima Deguara, over the possibility of resigning her seat for the co-option of Adrian Delia.

Political newcomer Adrian Delia was elected on Sunday by the PN’s 15,000 paid-up members, seeing off Nationalist MP Chris Said by clinching just 800 votes more, or 52% of the vote.

An MP now has to vacate their seat so that Delia can be co-opted into the House as Opposition leader in time for the Budget speech, expected to be held early in October.

Former Naxxar mayor Maria Deguara was elected by casual election on the 11th district after David Agius vacated his seat there, his second constituency.

Deguara is the wife of former Nationalist health minister Louis Deguara.

She was present on the front row on Sunday’s Independence Day celebrations at the Granaries in Floriana where Adrian Delia made his first public appearance as PN leader.

The other MPs elected by casual election were Ivan Bartolo, David Stellini, Karol Aquilina, and Godfrey Farrugia, whose seat is now occupied in the name of the Democratic Party.