Jason Azzopardi ‘seriously considering’ deputy leadership post, prefers Chris Said as leader
Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi is seriously considering contesting the post of PN Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs, The Malta Independent can confirm.
Contacted for comment yesterday, the shadow minister for justice said that he has been receiving a lot of support from people within the Nationalist Party to run for the post. According to Azzopardi, PN supporters began encouraging him to take the leap as soon as the general election results were out.
“It started in the counting hall. Literally right after the result was out. I have given it a lot of thought and now I’m seriously considering running for the post. Time is an issue, as I’m being kept quite busy with the Panama Papers court cases.”
Azzopardi said he believes that with his parliamentary experience and good election results, he can aid the party further. “Thinking about it, I realised that my five-term experience in parliament can be an asset to serve as an excellent co-pilot.”
Asked if he would be willing to work under any of the contenders for PN leader, Azzopardi said that he would be willing bow his head to the decision of the PN members, but would ultimately prefer Chris Said as leader.
“It is no big secret. Chris and I go way back and, personally, I believe he would make an excellent leader. Still, I believe that all of the contenders have a lot to offer.”
Azzopardi is the second PN MP to publicly declare his interest in occupying the post of Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs. Last Sunday, this newspaper revealed how Opposition Whip David Agius was eyeing this very same post. Robert Arrigo, in the meantime, has expressed his interest in the post of PN Deputy Leader for Party Affairs.
Four people have thrown their name into the hat in hopes of becoming the next leader of the Nationalist Party and Leader of the Opposition. Birkirkara FC president and lawyer Adrian Delia was the first to make his interests public. Veteran MP Chris Said, highlighting his experience, soon followed. Outgoing PN treasurer Alex Perici Calscione and Frank Portelli, former president of the PN executive, then joined the race. Nominations closed on 19 July. The PN general council will convene in the first week of September to choose two candidates and a convention will later select a leader on 16 September.
The Nationalist Party administrative shake-up will also mean that the party chooses two new faces to replace Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami as deputy leaders. So far, Agius and Arrigo are the only ones who have confirmed they are willing to run for the post. Jason Azzopardi, now seriously considering the vacant seat, might be the third contender.