After Bernard Grech resigned as leader of the Nationalist Party on Monday, all eyes turned to who might take over. While names like Roberta Metsola, Alex Borg, Adrian Delia and Franco Debono are making headlines, there is one person who is being overlooked: Joe Giglio.

Joe Giglio is a well-known lawyer who only entered politics a few years ago. In the 2022 general election, he ran for the first time and received over 9,000 first-count votes. This made him the second most popular candidate in the PN, just behind Bernard Grech. Many saw this strong result as a sign that Giglio could be a future leader.

In 2021, he was appointed to the party’s executive committee. Soon after, he became the PN’s shadow minister for home affairs. In January 2024, he was moved to the role of shadow minister for infrastructure and capital projects, showing that the party trusted him with important responsibilities.

This is not the first time Giglio has been linked to the PN leadership. Back in 2020, when Adrian Delia’s position as leader was being questioned, Giglio’s name was mentioned. At that time, he did not run, and Bernard Grech went on to win the leadership race with 69.3% of the vote.

Now, things might be different. Following Grech’s resignation, Giglio posted on social media saying he would “keep in constant contact” with the people. His message sparked many comments and rumours from supporters urging him to run for leader.

Although much attention is on Roberta Metsola, she has hinted she may remain in Brussels until her European Parliament term ends in January 2027. Alex Borg is another favourite, but he has not made any official announcements. Mark Anthony Sammut has already ruled himself out.

With so many still undecided, Giglio may be the candidate who surprises everyone. His calm style, strong showing in past elections, and growing support within the party could make him a serious contender for PN leader.

#MaltaDaily