UPDATED - PN leadership election on May 4

Updated 12.30 a.m. Friday Nationalist Party councillors will vote for a new leader on May 4 and nominations will be accepted between April 2nd and 5th, it was announced tonight, after a five-hour PN executive meeting at the party's headquarters. Meanwhile, an analysis about the party's electoral defeat will be compiled by May 31 by a commission to be headed by maritime lawyer Ann Fenech, who was recently urged to contest for the top post but declined. Initial leaks from the meeting claimed the election would be held on May 8 but after further discussions it was decided that this date would instead be reserved for the second round of votes if neither candidate manages to obtain the two-thirds majority required to be elected. The decision must be taken by May 10, even if a third vote is taken. PN's current leader Lawrence Gonzi, who has now been sworn in as interim Opposition leader, announced he would not be seeking re-election soon after leading his party to a historical defeat at the polls, giving the Labour Party a nine-seat majority in Parliament. Potential leadership candidates have yet to declare their intentions but heavyweights Simon Busuttil, Mario de Marco and Beppe...