THE deadline for nominations for chief minister closed without a murmur at 3pm on Saturday. The Royal Court building opened from 2, but the only callers were the media as politicians stayed away.

Deputy Bailiff Richard Collas declared nominations closed and signed off the list shortly after 3 to leave four candidates – deputies Bernard Flouquet, Mike Torode, Jonathan Le Tocq and Peter Roffey – in the running.

The only interest in the building seemed to come from pedestrians in St James’ Street, puzzled as to why it was open.

Assistant restaurant manager Yves Jestin, 27, did not realise that the deadline had passed, but he said he was vaguely familiar with the Fallagate controversy.

‘The French elections take place in March and though I work in Guernsey, I am very keen to know what’s happening in France,’ he said. ‘The resignations of Deputy Morgan and Deputy Trott were very big things for Guernsey, but it’s been difficult to tell who’s been telling the truth and who hasn’t.’

Receptionist Fran Volschenk, 23, took little interest.

‘Politics is not really my scene. Coming from South Africa, it’s something I try to avoid, especially coming from a farm as there’s more than 300 people per month being killed on farms there and people just seem to be taking over.’

A motorist seemed to give greater priority to the impending half-time football results than who would head the Policy Council until the next general election in April 2008.

As news of scorers started to filter through, Bailiff’s secretary Sarah Randell taped a sheet with the candidates’ names to a window at the front of the building.

The States will today choose Deputy Laurie Morgan’s successor. The incumbent is not allowed to be a member of any States department. As the only non-Policy Council member, the election of Jonathan Le Tocq as chief minister would give all existing departmental ministers the chance of being re-elected. The election of either deputies Flouquet, Torode or Roffey would guarantee a new face on the council when ministers are elected on Wednesday.