Two Gozitan voters have filed a judicial protest against the Nationalist Party if it fails to cancel the co-option of Jean Pierre Debono to Parliament and call another vote.

In their legal notice, Mariella Mercieca and Daniel Cilia have argued that Saturday’s vote meant that PN has violated electoral law, the party’s statutes, and the Constitution.

The pair also claim that Debono and his wife MP Kristy Debono should not have been allowed to vote over “general principles about conflict of interest” and the party’s own code of ethics.

Debono, a Delia-loyalist, was narrowly elected in a secret vote within the PN’s Executive Committee, beating out Gozitan Kevin Cutajar by 42 votes to 40

The co-option has since been postponed, after several party figures, including the former president of the Executive Committee Mark Anthony Sammut, pointed out serious issues in the voting procedure, namely that David Stellini and PN Treasurer David Camilleri were not allowed to submit their ballot.

The judicial protest was signed by lawyer Damian Cassar and lawyer Amadeus Cachia, representing Franco Debono and Associates.

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Julian Bonnici

Julian is the former editor of Lovin Malta and has a particular interest in politics, the environment, social issues, and human interest stories.