PM targets March election

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is targeting a March 8 general election though he is leaving the option open to go to the polls a week later, The Sunday Times has learnt.

It is understood that the Prime Minister is intending to dissolve Parliament on February 4, or perhaps sooner. The local council elections are expected to be on the same day as the general election.

Sources also said that in addition to the second district, Dr Gonzi has decided to contest the ninth - which is made up of San Ġwann, Msida, Għargħur, Ta' Xbiex and Swieqi - where the Nationalist Party has experienced a drop in votes in recent years.

The law states that there must be a minimum of 33 days between the dissolution of Parliament and election day. The writ for local council elections should be issued at least two days earlier than that.

Sources said the PN will begin the process of informing its candidates of the election date as from today, and starting tomorrow the Prime Minister will hold a number of ­meetings with unions and constituted bodies to finalise the electoral manifesto.

The erection of several billboard stands owned by the PN over the past few days has fuelled speculation of an impending election, though the Prime Minister - whose sole prerogative it is to make the decision - has remained tight-lipped on the date.

The Labour Party has made it clear that its leader Alfred Sant, who underwent major surgery last month to remove a malignant colon tumour, is prepared for an election campaign. Dr Sant is expected to deliver his first political address since surgery this morning at the end of the MLP general conference in Hamrun.

Parliament will discuss the motion calling for the ratification of the EU Reform Treaty on Tuesday, though this is unlikely to drag on, especially after the European and Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives last week ­unanimously expressed itself in favour of the treaty.

The 2008 election is likely to be one of the closest in years, with polls showing the PN and MLP running neck and neck.

There will be around 300,000 eligible voters.

Candidates have been busy with their home visits for weeks, and propaganda material has been ­pouring into residences in recent days.

However, PN candidates in the ninth district are unlikely to be pleased that Dr Gonzi's name will be on the same ballot paper.

The list includes seven MPs: Robert Arrigo, Dolores Cristina, Joe Falzon, Michael Frendo, Franco Galea, George Pullicino and Francis Zammit Dimech. Others contesting are John Rizzo Naudi, Georg Sapiano, Charles Selvagi, Karl Gouder, Noel Muscat, Pippo Psaila, and Donald Felice.