The waiting game

Spirits soared and fell, pessimism wiped out optimism and vice versa, and hope was crushed and rekindled during the determining day yesterday when the closest electoral result since the 1950s failed to yield an early indication of the winner.

Until it was clear that the PN had won, at about 9.30 p.m., the waiting game played havoc with the country's emotions. It was a long-drawn-out, roller-coaster ride to the results, with adrenaline pumping in fits and starts.

The day dawned with the vote reconciliation process at the counting hall at Naxxar but the low turnout of 93 per cent and a swing of 1.7 per cent to Labour being predicted by PN sources was pointing in the direction of a Labour victory - and not by a small majority.

Labour Party deputy leader Michael Falzon said he had a "precise idea" of who would win the election and that he was confident the winner would have an absolute majority of first-count votes - he was to be proved wrong. MLP general secretary Jason Micallef expressed pleasure at the way things were going and Labour MEP Joseph Muscat said the party had indications and feedback that could surprise many.

And surprises were, indeed, in store...

By 10 a.m., MLP supporters were already celebrating in full swing in a number of localities, including Ħamrun, Paola, Żabbar, San Ġwann, Żebbuġ and Birkirkara, where it was being said that Labour had won by a 14,000 majority. Vote counting had not even started, but supporters were gathering outside the MLP headquarters, in contrast to the silence and anticipation at the relatively quiet Stamperija (the nearby PN central administration building). Labour leader Alfred Sant arrived at 12.15 p.m., entering the MLP headquarters without speaking to anyone.

Subtle body language on TV also seemed to point in the direction of an MLP victory... And carcades were characterised by red flags.

However, things were set to change once the sorting of the votes kicked off at 12.30 p.m. and the situation stopped looking so drastic for the PN. It was the mood that swung, after all.

Sorting was intended to start earlier than originally indicated - 10.30 a.m. - but the deadline was not met and was actually surpassed by two hours.

A forecast of the result, based on samples taken by the parties, should have been available within the hour. But the fact that it was taking so long to give some form of indication meant the result would not be as clear cut as Dr Falzon had confidently predicted.

Indications were that any victory would be characterised by a razor-thin margin. Party officials said the representative samples across the electoral districts were presenting a mixed picture and the contest was too close to call.

By 2.30 p.m., the crowd in front of the MLP headquarters had started to disperse and another completely opposed one formed further down the Mile End Road in front of the house of PN candidate Mario de Marco, cheering the Nationalists instead.

It did not take long for the area in front of the MLP headquarters to completely empty out after a security guard told them to go home and that the PN had won by 5,600 votes. Rumours were rife, but the margin was never wide.

Meanwhile, information was doing the rounds to the tune of a slimmer PN victory, hovering between 1,000 and 2,000 votes. The figures kept going up and down, keeping everyone on tenterhooks and painting a completely contrasting scenario to what had started to unfold earlier on in the day.

In percentage terms, at that stage, it was a PN victory of 0.3 per cent. But still, there was no sign of a clear result from the samples taken by the parties, which are known to be accurate. At 3 p.m., the third sampling exercise was being carried out.

And the yoyo of events continued, with a small crowd re-gathering outside the MLP headquarters and PN street parties forming at Buġibba and Siġġiewi, where about 500 supporters partied around the PN club.

From the counting hall, Dr Falzon evaded the question of an absolute majority he had mentioned in the morning and appealed for calm and prudence, saying "sampling is sampling".

PN media director Gordon Pisani also appealed for calm and it appeared that the victory would not be declared until the MLP conceded defeat, so any supporters should clear the streets.

Body language at that point was still hard to decipher as everyone treaded cautiously trying not to transmit any signals.

The clocked ticked on, and by 3.30 p.m., the fourth sampling was being taken. A PN source said that, although it looked like a PN victory, no results would be available before 8 p.m., while Alternattiva Demokratika and Azzjoni Nazzjonali conceded they were no longer in the running - although AD's chairman Harry Vassallo was later to briefly re-enter the fray.

Unofficially, the parties were by 3.45 p.m. agreeing that the PN had won by under 2,000 votes, as an MLP flag was waved out of a car hooting its way through Valletta.

Then a lull hit... But the PN horns were still hooting at intervals and street parties formed in Balluta Bay and other areas, including outside the PN headquarters.

Mr Pisani again strongly appealed for prudence at 4.30 p.m., saying the PN would let the electorate know the results once they were in hand and that, if supporters were out in the streets, they should go home until then.

The countdown was progressing and the fifth sampling started being taken at 5 p.m.... but still without results. The MLP would first have to concede defeat, but with such a close contest, they were not likely do so just yet. At the same time, PBS started talking about a PN victory and an impending visit by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to the Naxxar counting hall.

Outside the PN headquarters, the crowd gathered, while MLP supporters at their own headquarters were informed that their party had lost and were asked to go home. Once again, they left.

Things were starting to take shape just after 5 p.m., but was it a relative majority for the PN? A spontaneous celebration erupted in the counting hall, with hugs galore and happiness on the part of PN supporters, who broke into an enthusiastic chant of "Gonzi, Gonzi".

Supporters were again asked not to hit the streets and TV viewers were told that the situation was still fluid and that victory was not yet in the bag - another dampener, despite the spontaneous outburst of the PN.

It was probably too late to stop the massive parties now. In St Julians, they were in full swing - a truck, complete with a pumping sound system - was ready to rock and roll.

Dr Gonzi, who was supposedly about to visit the counting hall, failed to show up and the AD chairman's positive results on the 10th district gave rise to concerns on the PN front. However, there was no stopping the full-blown street parties in St Julians and Ħamrun, where the main street was actually closed off.

On the sixth sampling exercise at about 5.45 p.m., PN general secretary Joe Saliba burst the bubble even further, saying the result would not be available until another three hours. He insisted it was "so close" that the responsible approach would be to wait until every vote was counted. It was no use making predictions, he told inquisitive journalists.

What was sure was that it was going to be a "photo finish", the gap being minute. Mr Saliba called for patience saying no one should be celebrating. But the horns continued to hoot...

He did rule out that a third party was an issue at that moment and his words were echoed by Dr Falzon: It could go either way, so wait! Don't speculate; be prudent, the MLP deputy leader advised.

Another lull was broken by Mr Saliba at 7.20 p.m. only to reiterate the irresponsibility of giving any indication of the difference in votes between the parties and remaining tight-lipped about who was in the lead. He gave 9.30 p.m. as the deadline for the announcement of a result, barring any more complications.

As the suspense held fast, there was at least an end in sight.

At 9.30 p.m., the PN announced a hard-fought victory. When he was eventually given the chance to comment over the loud cheering, Mr Saliba said the PN had garnered a majority of 1,200 votes - 49.3 per cent. He was then triumphantly whisked away, shoulder high.

On the Labour TV station, One newscaster Miriam Dalli immediately announced the PN victory too, saying it would be in government for the next five years. But Dr Falzon said that before the MLP took its position, it would wait for the first-count votes of the Labour candidates. By that time, some districts had already been concluded.