Casual election to replace Jean Pierre Debono set for 3 October
● Delia could become Opposition leader before budget
The casual election to replace Jean Pierre Debono on the 7th electoral district will take place on 3 October, the Electoral Commission said yesterday.
Debono resigned on Sunday to allow for the co-option of newlyelected Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia. But, for this to happen, a casual election is still needed, with the elected candidate then choosing not to take up the seat.
All PN candidates have pledged to give their seat to Delia if elected via this casual election. Candidates of Partit Demokratiku, which ran for the election on the PN ticket, will also be contesting.
In a statement, the commission said the President of the Republic had commissioned the Electoral Commission to hold a casual election in the 7th electoral division following the resignation of Jean Pierre Debono.
The writ is being published in today’s Government Gazette. The Electoral Commission, therefore, notifies that it shall be receiving candidates’ nominations for a casual election to elect a member of parliament in the 7th electoral division.
Eligible candidates who contested the seventh electoral division in the June 2017 General Election and who were not elected may present their nomination form daily from Tuesday 26 till Saturday 30 September at the Electoral Commission’s Office at Evans Building, Merchants Street, Valletta between 9am and noon. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Office of the Electoral Commission in Valletta.
The Electoral Commission further notifies that the counting of votes of this casual election shall take place on Tuesday 3 October from 9am onwards.
The date of the election will allow Delia to be co-opted before the government presents its budget for 2018 on 9 October.