PN executive council approves three other MEP candidates

The Nationalist Party confirmed MP Francis Zammit Dimech, former PN leader contender Ray Bugeja and former TVHemm presenter Norman Vella as candidates for the European Parliament election.

The party's executive council met this evening to discuss the trio's nomination, which has already been vetted and approved by a commission entrusted with vetting prospective candidates.

Despite rumours that TV presenter Jean Claude Micallef would be on the list, the commission did not approve and therefore did not propose his candidature to the executive council.

Sources close to the PN said that the full list of candidates may not be concluded this evening.

The PN has so far selected eight candidates for the 2014 European election; incumbents David Casa and Roberta Metsola, entrepreneurs Helga Ellul and Jonathan Shaw, lawyers Stefano Mallia, Kevin Cutajar and Therese Commodini Cachia and PN youth section president Kevin Plumpton.

At first glance, the list of PN candidates contesting this year's European elections includes a balance between youth and experience, women and men and seasoned politicians and newcomers.

A specially appointed party commission carried out the selection of the MEP candidates.

The commission headed by former European Commissioner Joe Borg does not have the last word on the selection of candidates, however it would be making a recommendation to the party's administrative council and executive council who will make the final decision.