UPDATED: First count result expected around 9.30 p.m.

PN general secretary Joe Saliba has said he expects the final result of the first count vote to be announced around 9.30 p.m.

He told reporters at the Naxxar counting hall that the margin between the MLP and the PN was so narrow that the two parties could not make any projections on the basis of samples and would therefore await the final result.

Mr Saliba would not discuss how wide the margin actually is.

Asked about the possibility of Alternattiva Demokratika electing a candidate, particularly on the 10th district, Mr Saliba said this was technically possible but it was remote.

Earlier Mr Saliba sought to calm PN supporters who have started celebrating a Nationalist Party election victory.

Mr Saliba said that that the outcome would clearly be a photo finish and one should therefore wait until all the first count votes were counted.

“It is no use making predictions at this stage,” he said and called on supporters to get off the streets.He said six samples had been studied so far but there was still no clear projection.