Top Story • February 15 2004

Leading PN contenders nominated by same ministers

Two leading cabinet minister who may be crucial in the race for the future leader of the Nationalist Party and eventual Prime Minister have nominated both Lawrence Gonzi and John Dalli, MaltaToday has learned. Both camps believe the ministers are on their side though it appears that they are secretively only offering their hand to one side.
Dr Gonzi launched his campaign at the SAS Radisson with the slogan "Flimkien. Niddeciedu l-Gejjieni’ (Together we determine our future) later on he proceeded to the PN headquarters to present his nomination backed by 275 PN members of which 20 are MP’s and five are ministers.
Asked by MaltaToday if the MP’s and Ministers would vote for him in the election for leader, Lawrence Gonzi said he could not say for certain, but he was pleased to have been endorsed by them.
Yesterday John Dalli confirmed that he had told councillors who supported his candidature to endorse Dr Gonzi’s nomination should they so wish.
Yesterday as Lawrence Gonzi and John Dalli were confidently talking to the press in the morning, Louis Galea was conspicuously absent from any media events.
At the PN Naxxar club, John Dalli launched his political vision illustrated in a booklet ‘Biex hadd ma jibqa’ lura,’ at a press gathering.