Mtarfa residents vote for PN council

The Nationalist Party obtained the majority of votes as Mtarfa residents yesterday voted for their new council after the last Labour-controlled council was dissolved for failing to follow administrative rules.

PN candidates obtained 48 per cent of the vote, the Labour Party obtained 42 per cent, and 10 per cent of the votes went to independent candidates.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had recommended the dissolution of the council to President Eddie Fenech Adami in view of problems that left the council unable to function.

The Mtarfa council had been continuously disregarding the provisions of the Local Councils Act which, among others, stipulates that councils meet at least once a month.

The Mtarfa council has not met since November. The government had appointed a committee to serve as a council until the new council is elected.

The council, led by mayor Josephine Abela, is the third to be dissolved since councils were introduced 15 years ago.

The other two were Sannat and Paola.