Fearne will not re-contest for PL deputy leadership post
Chris Fearne said he will be stepping down from the role of Labour Party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs.In a post on Facebook, he said following the decree given by the court today, “in the country’s best interest” he will
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Chris Fearne said he will be stepping down from the role of Labour Party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs.
In a post on Facebook, he said following the decree given by the court today, “in the country’s best interest” he will not be seeking to retain the post when the party elects its two deputy leaders in September.
The PL’s other deputy leader Daniel Micallef, who is responsible for party affairs, had already declared his intention to quit soon after the European Parliament and local council elections in June.
In his post, Fearne said that after the court ruled that, prima facie, there exists enough evidence for him to be indicted in connection with the Vitals inquiry, he will now present his full defence in the next stage, convinced that his innocence will be proven.
Fearne referred to the “malicious and dirty” frame-up that was exposed in the past weeks by which €6 million had been spent to fabricate a story about him.
Since the judicial process will take months, he said he will put the national interest first before any other consideration, “as he has always done and will continue to do”.
The country cannot remain without a Deputy Prime Minister, he said. Fearne had resigned the post and that of European Funds Minister in May soo after charges were brought against him in court, but he had held on to the position of PL deputy leader, a position he will now relinquish.
In September, he said, he will not contest for the post of PL deputy leader for parliamentary affairs. This will allow the winner of the election to automatically be appointed Deputy PM.
This same principle is what he said guided him to withdraw his candidacy from the post of European Commissioner and Deputy PM/Minister in May.
In the next stage of the judicial process, Fearne said he will continue to sustain his innocence “with facts and conviction”.