Labour Party deputy leader Toni Abela is Malta's nominee for the European Court of Auditors.

The 59-year-old lawyer will be replacing Louis Galea, whose five-year term will end in the coming months.

A lawyer for 33 years, Dr Abela specialises in constitutional and administrative law.

Dr Abela was expelled from the Labour Party in 1989 after taking a stand against corruption inside the party.  He was one of the founders of Alternattiva Demokratika.

He later rejoined the party and was elected deputy leader in 2008. In 1996 he was appointed to the Employment Commission, which is a Constitutional body, where he served as one of the Commissioners for three years.

Dr Abela's move to Luxembourg will open up a contest for the PL's deputy leadership for party affairs.

Dr Abela would have to go through a tough hearing in the European Parliament before the move is sanctioned.