Chris Fearne submits nomination for PL deputy leadership

Health minister Chris Fearne took to social media yesterday to announce that he will be vying for the post of deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Writing on Twitter, Fearne said he was “looking forward to a keen, clean contest” as he confirmed the submission of his nomination.

The post of deputy leader for parliamentary affairs will be vacated by Louis Grech, opening up a new race in the Labour leadership, which currently includes economy minister Chris Cardona as deputy leader for party affairs.

Finance minister Edward Scicluna also confirmed with local media that he intended to run for the post.

A close aide told MaltaToday last month that Fearne, 54, was “positive about the post after the election, and he is also considering his prospects beyond a five-year term.”

Submitted my nomination for Labour Party Deputy Leader: looking forward to a keen, clean contest. pic.twitter.com/o8nta7OIu2

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) June 21, 2017

“Fearne is seen as a promising politician with a no-nonsense approach by the Prime Minister,” the aide had added.

Fearne, a consultant paediatric surgeon, was elected to parliament on the fourth district in 2013, the first time he ran for election.

Louis Grech’s successor will be elected on 13 and 14 July, during an extraordinary general conference in which the party will also vote on all the elected positions in the administration.

A secret vote of confidence in Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat will also be held during the conference, as laid down in the party’s statute.

Nominations for deputy leadership and the other administrative positions will be accepted until 6pm on today.