Fenech Adami to meet party officials this morning

It is set to be an emotional 70th birthday for Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami today as he will be meeting the Nationalist Party executive committee and his parliamentary group at the party headquarters to inform them about his decision to step down as party leader.

Dr Fenech Adami's intentions have already had an emotional effect on the party grassroots, many of whom never saw the time so close when Dr Fenech Adami would call it a day.

After meeting the party executive and parliamentary group in the morning, Dr Fenech Adami is expected to address a news conference to speak about his intentions. He is also expected to formally ask the party, according to the statute, to convene a general council meeting to elect a successor.

Following the meeting with Dr Fenech Adami, it is believed that the executive committee will convene to decide on the procedure and on the date of the first round of elections.

The extraordinary general council meeting could be held on February 29. Another possible date being mentioned is March 7, party sources say.

The sources indicated yesterday that the two main contenders, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Finance Minister John Dalli had intensified their activity, which includes direct meetings with the 850 councillors whose vote will determine their fate.

To be elected, a contender has to get two-thirds of the vote, which makes it unlikely that the issue will be decided in the first round.