The former education minister who lectures at University told the newspaper that he intends contesting even though he said that he "is being realistic" about it. He also did not exclude the option of running for deputy leader of the MLP, a post he contested in 2003 losing out to Michael Falzon.

"I tend to have more support among the broader Labour base than within the party," he said while stating that, in principle, he favours the idea floated by George Abela and others that the new leader should be chosen by paid-up members as well as delegates.

"There have been people in the party who have been working on that idea for the past two years and who were very disappointed it was mentioned publicly like that... because now it's being associated with someone who may be running for the leadership."

"I definitively think it's where we should be going, but right now I think it's too piecemeal. It's like we thought up something to do for the time being. I think there are organisational and structural changes in the party that need to be done, such as the decision of whether to have a second deputy leader, which need to be tackled together", added Mr Bartolo.

The election of the MLP leader is set for June 5. Until then Dr Charles Mangion, who stated that he will not contest for the leadership post, will be acting leader of the party. An election for deputy leaders will be held on June 12.

The only other official candidates so far for the post of MLP leader are Joseph Muscat and Michael Falzon. Other candidates who expressed their willingness to press on their candidature are Anglu Farrugia and former MLP deputy leader in the 1990s Gorg Abela.  Nominations officially open a week before the June 5 election.