PD Leader Anthony Buttigieg to contest MEP elections

Partit Demokratiku leader Anthony Buttigieg has been nominated by the party executive as their first named MEP election candidate. The decision was unanimous.

The decision was only voted upon after Anthony Buttigieg had presented himself before an independent Board for Scrutiny, consisting of people of standing not directly involved in the party, as will all prospective PD candidates.

“After a long and thorough interview, this independent board passed on their report to the Party Executive. The Executive then voted on the MEP candi- dacy based on the board’s recommendation.

“Bearing in mind the fact that Buttigieg holds a full-time job, the increasing demands of a fastexpanding party, and wishing to put all his energy into an effective campaign, he has decided that it would be in the best interests of the party to elect a new leader in order to maintain its momentum. This decision was taken in full consultation with the Party Executive,” PD said.

Buttigieg will step down as leader on 21 September, allowing the mechanism to elect a new leader to come into effect. According to the party statute, this process will begin the next day.

He will stay on as interim/caretaker leader until a new leader is elected and will re- main a member of the party’s Executive Committee.

In a statement, the Party said: “Looking back on a long year, Partit Demokratiku has proved the need for, and strength of, the third party in Parliament, remaining on the front line in the fight for good governance, the environment and social justice. The party executive is grateful for the service of Anthony Buttigieg to his country as leader, and his success in the MEP elections would be a historic victory for Malta, for Europe and for pluralism. His voice in Brussels will be that of one of the last gentlemen in politics.”