Whoever will replace him will have massive shoes to fill, leaving the PN with a challenging question: should a casual election be called or should someone be co-opted to replace him?

A co-option will only happen should the three unelected candidates in the 10th district refuse to declare their interest, whether out of personal choice or party order. 

Former MP Karl Gouder, St Julian’s Mayor Albert Buttigieg and progressive candidate Emma Portelli Bonnici are all potentially in the running for a casual election and each of them offers something different. However, there have been suggestions that deputy leader Alex Perici Calascione could be co-opted.

Casual elections depend entirely on the preference votes of the elected candidate leaving the district and have conjured up surprises time and time again. And with Arrigo having received 3,529 votes, it’s all to play for.

Gouder was the worst-performing of the three when it came to first-count votes. However, he had been a long-serving MP and St Julian’s mayor and his position within the party structures could nudge him to victory. 

Buttigieg was the one who received the most of Arrigo’s excess votes during the general election. Still, in that case, only 49 of Arrigo’s votes were distributed and Gouder was already out of the race. 

Portelli Bonnici, meanwhile, performed relatively well in her first-ever general election and had dropped out just before Buttigieg, who was the last candidate to miss out on a seat. 

Buttigieg and Portelli Bonnici would present interesting choices. Both are outspoken on major issues, whether that’s construction or liberal issues like sexual health.

Both were critical of the party after the election. Buttigieg claimed that his bid was obstructed by internal rivals, referencing a meeting between a high-ranking non-elected PN official and a ‘fat cat’ at a hotel.

Although Buttigieg didn’t name any names, Ray Bezzina – who was the PN’s head of secretariat before moving to the db Group – suggested the mayor was referring to him.

Ultimatums from the PN proved to be useless and the issue was buried there. 

Meanwhile, Portelli Bonnici said that the “party made no space” for her and was distancing herself from the party. 

If Gouder, Buttigieg and Portelli Bonnici decide to keep away from the PN, which admittedly is in its worst position in decades, Perici Calascione will be the one most likely to capitalise.

A former leadership candidate, Perici Calascione is well known in party circles and has served in various positions within the party’s executive.

However, that has never translated into a parliamentary seat despite his attempts at contesting elections. 

The party has regularly favoured party stalwarts in similar cases but it does present a risk in the 10th district. 

Arrigo was a major figure in the district and imposing an outsider with no interest in the locality could prove disastrous. 

The district has turned to outside candidates in the past and the PN cannot afford to lose ground in one of its grassroots districts.

Who should take Arrigo’s seat?