Runoff in MLP leader election

Labour party delegates last night failed to elect a party leader when none of the five candidates obtained the 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast as required by the party's statute.

The front runners George Abela and Joseph Muscat in the race to the top party post succeeding Alfred Sant, will now face each other in a runoff this evening.

Dr Abela polled 200 votes (22.88 per cent); Evarist Bartolo 32 (3.66 per cent); Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca 26 (2.97 per cent); Michael Falzon 181 (20.71 per cent), together totalling 439 (50.23 per cent).

Dr Muscat polled 435 votes which amounts to 49.77 per cent.

An upbeat Dr Muscat told The Times after the election result was announced: "The result is even better than expected, considering that I was competing against four stalwarts... despite what some people might have said."

The 34-year-old MEP thanked delegates for their vote and reiterated that he would make sure the other four contenders would play a central role in the party led by him. However, he cautioned, saying that the "game is not over" and that he was ready for a second round.

Efforts to reach Dr Abela after the contest were unsuccessful.

Reacting to doubts whether Dr Abela would concede defeat, chief electoral commissioner Joe Falzon told reporters after the election, that even if Dr Abela conceded defeat, the statute still makes it compulsory for the runoff to take place.

The assumption near the party headquarters yesterday, even among delegates who spoke to The Times, was that the majority of those who chose the candidates who did not do so well in the election would, in a runoff, cast their preference for Dr Abela.

Of the 889 delegates eligible to vote, 879 voted, while five votes were invalid, bringing the number of valid votes to 874.

Following a lengthy voting process which took the best part of six hours, Mr Falzon started calling in the votes, in alphabetical order with George Abela.

Dr Abela made exceptional headway, starting the contest two months ago as "the outsider", having resigned as Labour's deputy leader in 1998, shortly before the party faced an electoral defeat that ended its 22-month stint in government.

Hours before the counting started the situation was calm at the party headquarters, even though a sizeable crowd of delegates, candidates and their helpers gathered at the back entrance of the building.

Earlier on, outgoing party leader Alfred Sant, who resigned as opposition leader yesterday cast his vote. However, he left the building at once, speeding by delegates and journalists, occasionally shaking people's hands, but giving no comments.