Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1124848
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 JUNE 2019 Miriam Dalli, Labour MEP The European election result gave Miriam Dalli a strong reason to lay claim to the leadership when Muscat steps down Chris Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and minister for health It is an open secret that the Deputy Prime Minister harbours the ambition to lead the PL if Muscat leaves. However, publicly, Chris Fearne has always insisted that he wants to convince the Prime Minister to stay on Ian Borg, minister for transport and p[anning The 33-year-old minister is using the slogan on social media as he capitalises on the high visibility his portfolio gives him Konrad Mizzi, minister for tourism Implicated in the Panama Papers, a weakened Opposition is good news for Mizzi, who spent the years 2016-2017 under a permanent spotlight NEWS 9.5% Decision-making positions 2018 Rights, Equality and Ci zenship Programme 2014-2020 Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 80% EU funds; 20% Na onal Funds ing the slogan on social media as he capitalises on the high visibil- ity his portfolio gives him. The multitude of road works being undertaken is unprecedented. He does have a mega budget that no roads minister before him had but Borg has delivered well since being entrusted for the first time with a ministry in 2017. On Facebook, last week, Borg emphasised the fact that he was present on the ground with mayors, councillors and activists throughout the elec- toral campaign and promised to remain with them "every com- ing day so that together we will change the face of Malta and Gozo for the better". Party sources have told Malta- Today that Borg has been slowly building a network of influence at community level, which could come to good use in a leadership contest. Chris Fearne It is an open secret that the Deputy Prime Minister har- bours the ambition to lead the PL if Muscat leaves. However, publicly, Chris Fearne has al- ways insisted that he wants to convince the Prime Minister to stay on. Fearne enjoyed visibility dur- ing the electoral campaign by virtue of his role as deputy prime minister. His first performance during the 1 May mass meet- ing left much to be desired in terms of delivery but he im- proved in the last rally of the campaign in Birgu. During the deputy leadership race after the last general elec- tion, Fearne proved to be a good campaigner, coming from behind to upstage He- lena Dalli and Edward Scicluna. Party sources told MaltaToday that since then, Fearne has con- tinued to build support among party delegates with the help of an organised team. This is a strategic move, given that a leadership contest would first start with a vote among del- egates to whittle down the field to two before going to the mem- bers for a final vote. But Fearne also enjoys gravitas among the wider electorate, which cannot be dismissed in any leadership race. Konrad Mizzi The Tourism Minister has publicly insisted that he would like Muscat to stay on but he has openly approached delegates and party activists with his ambi- tion of contesting the party lead- ership when the vacancy arises. Party sources have indicated that Mizzi enjoys popularity among Labour rank and file and he could be the wild card in the pack. But he also comes with some heavy baggage that members wanting to win an election will not easily overlook when push comes to shove. Mizzi may very well try to use a possible leader- ship bid as leverage to ensure he is not left by the wayside when Muscat is out of the picture. ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Joseph Muscat has indicated he will not be contesting another general election but the timing of his departure remains uncertain. There is the chance Muscat will decide to stay on but insiders believe this is a remote possibility The contenders