The deputy leader of the Malta Labour Party, Michael Falzon, yesterday hit out at comments that he was to blame for the party's electoral defeat and insisted that he had always taken decisions in the party's best interest.
Dr Falzon - who did not mention anybody by name - insisted that the Electoral Commission had already been toying with the idea when it was approached by MLP officials to add another hour to voting.
In an interview with MaltaToday yesterday, MLP secretary general Jason Micallef said the idea to extend voting times was Dr Falzon's, along with party electoral office chief Louis Gatt. When asked whether this had cost the MLP the electoral defeat, Mr Micallef said the party was in the hands of those who were experts at the electoral process: Dr Falzon and Mr Gatt.
Mr Micallef, who sat next to Dr Falzon, kept a straight face and did not react in any way.
Dr Falzon, who is deputy leader for party affairs, said: "I have been serving this party for 16 years and I have always taken decisions that were in the party's best interest. When we approached the Electoral Commission we were informed that they were already considering extending the voting time. We suggested that only the localities where council elections were being held should have the voting time extended but were told that this would create problems, so they decided to extend the voting time all over. I did not do anything wrong and I will not let anyone, or any newspaper, or any television station, tarnish my reputation".
He said the MLP thought of requesting an extension to the voting time because of problems in Senglea, Żejtun, Marsa, Żabbar, Żurrieq and Valletta, all localities where the MLP usually does well.
He continued: "Whoever thinks that the election was won and lost in the extra hour given for people to vote does not deserve to be in politics".
Dr Falzon was speaking at a press conference on the results of the local council elections held on March 8. The counting of votes took place on Saturday. Despite losing the majorities in Sta Venera, Mqabba and Mellieħa, and despite a two per cent swing in favour of the Nationalist Party, Dr Falzon said the MLP put on a "good show" at the council elections.
"As expected, the Labour Party obtained an absolute majority of votes with 52.2 per cent of the votes but, as anticipated, lost majorities, although the Mellieħa situation was not expected. In Mqabba we lost the majority for a mere 30 votes at the first count and in Mellieħa we have 150 more first count votes but at the end of the counting process lost the majority with just 16 votes. In Pembroke we did well and in Għajnsielem we obtained an extra seat."
Commenting on the possible reasons of such a performance, Dr Falzon said the voter turnout was higher than usual because it was the first time that a general election and a council election were held on the same day.
The MLP deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, Charles Mangion, said the council elections were overshadowed by the general election. He thanked all councillors and urged them to work in the best interests of their localities. "The result of the local council elections confirms the result of the general election: the country is split in two and this means greater responsibility for the elected councillors.
"The MLP-led councils will continue to strive for value for money and the delivery of promises made," he said.
Unlike usual Labour press conferences, questions were not allowed yesterday and MLP officials walked out of the room as soon as the speeches were over.