Chris Fearne, Maltas deputy prime minister, on Friday threw his hat into the ring to replace Joseph Muscat, who has pledged to step down early next year amid growing pressure over the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
In a Facebook post, Fearne, who is also health minister, said he wants “the whole truth” to come out and see that “justice is done.”
“I will see that the countrys institutions are led with integrity, independence and separate from one another. I will carry the weight that the country needs me to shoulder,” said Fearne, who is not viewed as a close Muscat ally.
According to local media, Fearne has already received support from Justice Minister Owen Bonnici and Transport Minister Ian Borg, although Borg is also believed to be mulling a run at the top job.
On Thursday, Miriam Dalli, a Labour MEP who was thought to be a leading candidate to replace Muscat, said she wouldnt run.
Muscat said in a statement at the beginning of the month that he would resign as head of the Labour Party in January so the party can choose a new leader and prime minister, which will take about one month. In the meantime, Muscat said he would continue to serve as prime minister to ensure stability.
The move followed calls for his resignation from Caruana Galizias family and thousands of protesters after an investigation into the murder revealed close connections between suspects in the case and his top team. Muscats chief of staff, Keith Schembri, and the government ministerRead More – Source
