 Finance Minister John Dalli has withdrawn his candidature for the second round of voting in the PN leadership election, thus paving the way for the election of Lawrence Gonzi to succeed Eddie Fenech Adami both as the new party leader and Prime Minister of Malta.
Speaking after the announcement of the official result of the election, Dalli made the announcement after he deemed his performance in the election, 25.4% of the vote as against Lawrence Gonzi's 59.1%, as insufficient to mount a serious challenge to Gonzi in the second round scheduled for Wednesday 3rd March.
"The Nationalist Party interest is that next Wednesday there should be one candidate behind which the party should unite," Dalli told the crowd gathered to witness the election process.
This second round was needed after no one of the candidates obtained 66% of the vote to be elected leader. However since Gonzi will be the only candidate on the ballot, and with Eddie Fenech Adami's clear backing now, Gonzi is expected to get the support of almost all the party delegates and get officially elected as leader.
Dr. Lawrence Gonzi is the PN Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy. He is also Leader of the House of Representatives with responsibility for Parliamentary Affairs.
He is the son of Louis and Inez née Galea, and was born in Valletta on 1 July 1953. He is married to Catherine née Callus and they have three children, David, Mikela and Paul.
Dr Gonzi graduated Doctor of Laws at the University of Malta in 1975 and practised Law between 1975 and 1988. His doctoral thesis focused on unlawful assembly.
 He has been actively involved in the voluntary and NGO sectors since 1976, particularly in the sectors related to disability issues and mental health issues. He occupied the position of General President of the Malta Catholic Action between 1976 and 1986.
Dr Gonzi contested the May 1987 General Elections as a candidate with the Nationalist Party in the Second and Third electoral districts. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on the 10th October 1988 during the Sixth Legislature (1988-1992) and on the 5th April 1992 he was unanimously re-elected Speaker for the Seventh Legislature (1992-1996).
Dr Gonzi contested the October 1996 General Elections and was the only Opposition Member elected to Parliament from the Second District. In November 1996, he was appointed Opposition Party Whip, Secretary to the Parliamentary Group and Shadow Minister for Social Policy.
In February 1997, Dr Gonzi was elected Secretary General of the Nationalist Party.
Dr Gonzi contested the September 1998 General Elections and was again elected from the Second District, taking his oath of office as Minister for Social Policy and Leader of the House of Representatives on 8th September 1998.
Following the election of Prof. Guido de Marco as President of the Republic, Dr. Gonzi contested and was successfully elected Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party on May 2nd 1999. He was subsequently designated as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy two days later.
In April 2003, Dr. Gonzi was re-elected from the second District and reappointed Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Social Policy and Leader of the House.
Between 1987 and 1988 Dr Gonzi was Chairman of the Pharmacy Board, and member of the Prisons Board. He was Chairman of the National Commission Persons with Disabilities between 1987 and 1994 and its President between 1994 and 1996. During this time he was also Chairman of the National Commission for Mental Health Reform. During the years 1994 and 1995 Dr Gonzi was Chairman of the Electoral System (Revision) Commission and Chairman of the Mizzi Organisation Board of Directors between 1989 and 1997.
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