Labour MEP Edward Scicluna yesterday announced he will contest the next general election in Malta after accepting an invitation to do so from Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

Prof. Scicluna, a popular economist among moderate voters, is being earmarked as a potential finance minister in a Labour cabinet.

Labour sources said his candidature sent a signal to the EU and the rest of the international community that a Labour government would be “fiscally trustworthy”.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Prof. Scicluna said his candidature meant the electorate would be given a “viable choice of a party in government with a strong team of qualified and experienced people.

“Dr Muscat believes I have a lot to offer a new Labour government once it is given the trust of the electorate, both on the economic and European fronts.”

Voters, he said, appreciated that oncoming challenges must be tackled by technocrats not bureaucrats.

Prof. Scicluna said he was currently working on negotiations and reports about new eurozone rules and treaty changes in his role as vice-president of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.

“I am confident that my track record as an MEP and performance in my previous public appointments would show that I have delivered on these requisites,” he said.

Prof. Scicluna made the announcement on One TV programme Bla Aġenda. He did not say which district he would contest, but he resides in Naxxar.

If he is elected, he would have to vacate his seat in the European Parliament, meaning a by-election would be held to replace him.