Lawrence Gonzi wordt nieuwe premier van Malta (en)

Malta's governing Nationalist Party has chosen a new party leader who will become the island's Prime Minister once Eddie Fenech Adami steps down.

Although none of the three contestants obtained the 66 percent of votes needed to be elected as party leaders, deputy prime minister Lawrence Gonzi won the race after his nearest rival, Finance Minister John Dalli, withdrew.

Mr Gonzi took 59.3 percent of the party delegates' votes during elections on Saturday; John Dalli obtained 25.3 percent, while the third challenger, education minister Louis Galea, ended up in third place with 15.4 percent of the votes.

Prime Minster Fenech Adami resigned as party leader in February and is expected to resign as prime minister after Malta's EU accession on 1 May, although no specific date has been mentioned so far.

"Participation in the European Union, the creation of jobs and a sounder economy are the most important priorities to be followed", Mr Gonzi said after his victory.