Simon Busuttil is, as expected, leading the candidates who contested yesterday's elections to the European Parliament. A cursory look at the candidates' pigeon holes, 35 minutes after the sorting of votes started at Naxxar counting centre shows Dr Busuttil's filling up quickly.

PN candidates David Casa and Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas are also doing well.

The situation is tighter among the Labour candidates, with the contest appearing to be between Louis Grech, Edward Scicluna, Marlene Mizzi, Joseph Cuschieri and John Attard Montalto.

One of the Labour candidates, Claudette Abela Baldacchino, cautioned, however, that the election would not be won solely by the No 1 votes but also by the other preferences.

Dr Busuttil in 2004 was the first candidate to be elected, winning 58,899 first count votes.

Support for Alternattiva Demokratika appears to have fallen steeply from the 9.33 percent won by the party in 2004.

Azzjonali Nazzjonali is also recording a poor performance.

Insiders in the major parties say that the PL is expected to retain its three EP seats to the PN's two, but the PN may win the extra seat allocated to Malta under the Lisbon Treaty, restoring parity at 3-3, although that is far from being a certainty.