Labour decides which seats should be vacated

Labour's national executive and Parliamentary group met today to decide which seats will be given up by candidates who were elected from two districts.

This will lead to by-elections which will decide who will replace the MPs who gave up one of their two seats.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will give up his second district seat. The frontrunners to fill in Muscat's seat are former MP Chris Agius and newcomers Yana Mintoff Bland and Adrian Meli.

Deputy prime minister Louis Grech has given up his seat on the first district with Luciano Busuttil and David Farrugia Sacco best placed to replace him.

Finance minister Prof Edward Scicluna will give up his seat on the eighth district, with Labour veteran Joe Debono Grech and new candidate Clifford Galea favourites to be elected.

Home affairs Minister Manuel Mallia will give up the tenth district with former Labour deputy leader Michael Falzon favourite to take his seat.

Divorce campaigner Deborah Schembri and Mellieha councillor Clayton Bartolo are best placed to take the seat vacated by education Minister Evarist Bartolo on the twelfth district.

The PN has six candidates who were elected on two districts but has yet to decide which seats will be vacated. The decision is taken by secret ballot.

Meanwhile, Labour also decided to set up a commission to submit proposals on the role which party clubs should have within the party. The recommendations are to be submitted within two months.