MLP wins local elections, PN regains Sta Venera, Mqabba, Mellieha
The Labour Party won the local council elections held on March 8 with 52.2 percent of first count votes, down from 53.16 percent three years ago, vote-counting held all day at Naxxar counting hall has established.
The Nationalist Party saw its tally rise to 46.1 percent from 44.05% three years ago, with the rest of the votes going to AD or independent candidates. However the local elections meant more bad news for Alternattiva, which saw a drop in its votes.
The Nationalist Party regained its majorities in Sta Venera, Mqabba and Mellieha. At Mqabba, the difference was just 10 votes and it was touch and go at Mellieha, with initial indicators pointing to Labour having retained this town..
The PN gained votes in all localities except Nadur and Valletta and won new seats in Kirkop, Xewkija, Mqabba, Sta Venera, Zejtun, St Julians and Mellieha.
The MLP gained a new seat in Ghajnsielem, the first time it will hold two seats in that five-seat council.
Vote counting started at 8 a.m. this morning and is expected to continue until the early hours of Sunday.
The elections mean several localities will have new mayors. In Nadur, former deputy mayor Miriam Portelli clinched the top spot by just one vote over Charles Said while at St Paul's Bay, the mayoral seat has been taken over by new candidate Graziella Galea. At Sta Venera, the new mayor is Elizabeth Vella. At Mellieha, the mayorship will past to the PN's Robert Cutajar.
In the election for Dingli council, Ian Borg , the youngest mayor in Malta and Gozo, was confirmed with more than half the votes cast.
Nationalist candidate Francis Cauchi was re-elected Mayor of Ghajnsielem for the sixth time, having won most votes in the PN-controlled council.
Mr Cauchi has been mayor ever since the local council was established in 1994.
Other mayors confirmed included Antoinette Vassallo (MLP) in Ta' Xbiex, Saviour Borg (PN) in Fontana, John Zammit Montebello (PN) in Balzan, Andrew Vella (PN) in Ghasri, Joseph Casha (MLP) in Senglea, Monica Vella (MLP) in Xewkija, Paul Borg Olivier (PN) in Valletta, Francis Debono (MLP) in Marsa, Silvio Izzi Savona (MLP) in Zurrieq, Joe Attard (MLP) in Zejtun, Anthony Dalli (PN) in Iklin, Peter Bonello in St Julians and Noel Galea in Mqabba.
In terms of the Local Councils Act, the candidate with the highest number of votes from the winning party in each locality becomes mayor.
Picture: Ian Borg, the mayor of Dingli.
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S. Agius
Mar 17th 2008, 10:35
Can we please stop this annual ridiculous situation stating which political party wins the local elections, who has gained a majority here, who lost it there, etc..... The PM stated that he now wants to tinker with this system as he said we cannot afford to enter election mode every year. I agree FULLY so pls let's start by scrapping the political parties from local elections and candidates just come forward independently in the name of the locality and not officially associated with any political party. Why do we need to attach politics to everythings? Let's all work for a common goal in our locality by being more professional, efficient, and act as an effective buffer between the community and government, as local elections are there for the interests of the local community and should be treated as such and not a confidence vote for government. Let's grow up pls quickly!!!!
Joseph Grech-Attard
Mar 16th 2008, 19:23
Mr. Karl Abela. I think that the statement you made that the MLP has ALWAYS been a conservative party is faulty. Look at history and then you can leap safely.
Karl Abela
Mar 16th 2008, 13:47
The Maltese folk has been saying the same thing over and over again for the past 10-15 years. Malta is happy to see labour running the country on a local basis but the electorate is also saying that the labour party should never be in government unless they change radically. Not that PN have been running the govenrment faultlessly, far from it. but at least their vision and policies for the country are far more realisitic and attractive. MLP was always a conservative party and that is not what our country wants.
Joseph Grech-Attard
Mar 16th 2008, 09:47
I am an MLP supporter. I cannot comment about other localities but it is not the first time that Mellieha changed hands. Under both councils (MLP & PN) the village has fared well because of their responsible, honest, ethical and moral leaderships. Things that went wrong were not their responsibility. I sincerely wish the new council the same form of co-operation as their predecessors.
Wayne Bonello
Mar 16th 2008, 07:59
The addition for a new councillor in Ghajnsielem was due to a takeover of the votes of an independent councillor which contested 3 years ago. It is a nice fact that Nationalists had a increases ina all villages especially in Pembroke. There historic wins in gaining councillors in Labour Fortresses like Kirkop, Xewikja, Zejtun and Marsa! There were memorable victories in Mqabba, Santa Venera and Mellieha which were gained after Labour mayorship!
JOHN SCERRI
Mar 15th 2008, 20:04
Much About Local elections. Is it time for a change here as well ? Reflections :-
Do we need so many Local councils?
Can we do with only 26 Councils - (2 for every electoral district) ?
Can we have a fixed number of council members for each council?
Shall the government save thousands of taxpayers' money ? I think so.. Can local councils last for 4 years not 3 - this will help them work better in reaching their targets. - The first year is mainly used up for ground work.
Advantages:
In this way we shall have only 26 Mayors paid from our taxes not 68.
We shall have more harmonization of work practices and procedures where projects and infrastructure are concerned meaning Reduced costs.
Anyone in favour ??
Keith Grech
Mar 15th 2008, 19:15
MLP won 5 straight local council elections in a row but failed to win the big prize. Is there a correlation between local and national elections?
J Attard
Mar 15th 2008, 18:57
Adding to that - remember there was a relatively strong showing by the independent candidate - that is close to PN...and inevitably took some votes from there..
Joseph E Briffa
Mar 15th 2008, 18:34
Again it shows: more votes for PN= less votes for AD and vice versa. No wonder we were told before the general elections that voting for AD is a vote for MLP.
E. Aquilina
Mar 15th 2008, 17:09
Loss of votes in Valletta is quite possibly the erroneous attribution of CVA to the local council. Residents have had to put up with harmful increase in pollution levels and shortage of parking spaces late in the evening mainly during weekends or when there are any feasts/activities taking place. High time ADT reassesses the situation which they introduced a year ago and get proper feedback from the city dwellers