Former minister's daughter is new St Paul's Bay mayor

There will be five new mayors in the 23 local councils that went to the polls on March 8, although the other 18 retained their seat.

The daughter of former Competitiveness Minister Ċensu Galea will be mayor of St Paul's Bay. She replaces Paul Bugeja, who did not contest.

The 24-year-old architect, who is currently reading for a Master's in road engineering, told The Sunday Times that she wanted to make a contribution to the country after being surrounded by politics since childhood.

He might be the youngest mayor, but 22-year-old Ian Borg obtained more than half the number-one votes in Dingli. This will be the law student's second term as mayor, a post he assumed aged just 19 after contesting the local elections for the first time three years ago.

Asked why he decided to enter the political arena, Mr Borg said this was triggered by the MLP's defeat in the 2003 general election, adding that he loves his village and wanted to do something positive for it.

Mqabba and St Venera will both have a new mayor after the Nationalist Party obtained a majority in both localities. Mqabba's new mayor is Emanuel Galea while Elizabeth Vella will be taking over St Venera's council.

Żurrieq's former mayor Ignatius Farrugia did not contest the election, and his seat will go to former deputy mayor Silvio Izzi Savona.

Although former Nadur mayor Chris Said obtained the highest number of votes in his home village, the post of mayor will go to another new face - Miriam Portelli - since Dr Said has left the local council to take up his new job as parliamentary secretary after being elected as an MP on March 8.

Saviour Borg will be taking the role of Fontana's mayor for the fourth time, while for Francis Cauchi this will be his sixth term as Għajnsielem's mayor.

Among the mayors reconfirmed in their position is Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier, who will be assuming the post for the fourth time.