New doubts on destination of sixth seat in EP elections
The destination of Malta's sixth seat in the European Parliament has been thrown into doubt after the transfer of surplus votes following the election of Nationalist candidate Simon Busuttil this morning.
The PN had initially been confident of winning the sixth seat. It was calculated that after two of its candidates are elected, it would have a surplus of over 18,000 votes.
The PL would have a surplus of 12,200 after three quotas, leaving a difference of 5,000 votes.
The margin narrowed, however, when some 1,000 of Dr Busuttil's votes were not transferred to other PN candidates but to the candidates of other parties.
Observers at Naxxar counting centre said much would depend on the other preferences given by voters who voted for Arnold Cassola (who won 5,235 first count votes) and Norman Lowell (3,559 votes) as well as the other candidates.
That, however, is not expected to be known before tomorrow.
The candidates who have been eliminated so far are Cecil Jones, John Spiteri Gingell, Nazzareno Bonnici, Reuben Attard, Emmy Bezzina, Malcolm Seychell, John Zammit, Mary Gauci (Libertas) Yvonne Aqueros Ebejer (AD.
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A Galea
Jun 9th 2009, 11:34
@ Damian Agius: Fair comments. Regarding the ostrich, well I am sure I will come up with something ;)
R. Gatt
Jun 9th 2009, 11:29
The EP elections came too soon for both parties. For PN, there was no time to imply certain promises and for PL, PN has 4 more years till the next GE to adjust the situation. As for the way the sixth seat is being chosen, according to Jos. Muscat, Gonzi agreed with his
proposal. In my opinion, PL deserves it more. At least the PL MEPs who where just warming their seats and pressing wrong buttons have been discarded by the PL voters. Let's hope the new ones do a better job in the interest of the country and not the party as some were saying pre election.
Damian Agius
Jun 9th 2009, 10:38
@A. Galea:
Well fair enough, everyone has his opinion, I just don't think re-opening a discussion on the rules of the election is valid now since each party will have a particularly directed agenda to either keep or change the current rules. That is why it was important to lay them down and agree to them beforehand, which they were. For you see you stated the words "deserves it" and I can argue that the person who "deserves it" is the one whom the rules say should get it, whereas you can argue your own opinion and we will both have valid arguments.
Either way seems like you are getting it so congrats, if its meant to be yours and the government makes a fuss I swear I will come on here and publicly (do you say that for the internet?) make my opposition to the objections known. This should be worth something seeing that I am true right-wing, nationalist (not really just PN, from what I heard of Thatcher I would have found her dealings with the unions rather enjoyable).
And I have no feathers so I am not an ostrich ;-) maybe you can think of something else?
m.camenzuli
Jun 9th 2009, 07:53
From what it seems it looks that the PL is going to win the 4th seat and thus this will be Marlene Mizzi.
A. Galea
Jun 8th 2009, 21:14
@ Damian Agius: If you maybe, being the blue nosed ostrich with his head in the sands, did not notice, there is a difference with hoping and complaining, if you are able to understand that is.
Damian Agius
Jun 8th 2009, 20:31
"Let's hope the party who REALLY deserves the seat gets it....PL obtained a mojority of nearly another quota over PN and has won by a landslide!!!!" To whom ever it goes you MLP supporters cannot complain, your beloved, omniscient leader Joseph Muscat agreed to this system before the election.
Mario Briffa
Jun 8th 2009, 20:00
The thing is that when there will be only three candidates left, and two seats in play, the one with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated, and the other two will be declared elected without quota. This will probably mean that Joe Cuschieri and Marlene Mizzi will join Edward Scicluna and Louis Grech for a total of 4 PL, while Pn will have Simon Busuttil and David Casa. This probably came about because PL voters spread out their preferences better, thus having two strong candidates with not enough votes to make a quota, but enough not to be last.
jb
Jun 8th 2009, 19:13
@ Joseph E Briffa: Your figures are correct, but that is not the point. Unless Triccas earns enough transferred votes to overtake Marlene Mizzi, she will be eliminated.
G. Cappitta
Jun 8th 2009, 19:06
@Joey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote
Joseph E Briffa
Jun 8th 2009, 18:53
I don't follow the arithmetic in this article. After the 10th count PN has a surplus of 17173 while Labour have a surplus of 12263; a difference of 4910. This is practically the same situation as in the first count. The pattern of votes inherited by the two big parties from the csndidates of the small parties eliminated so far seems to be practically equal transfers to both parties. Unless this pattern changes when Cassola and Lowell are eliminated - these have the majority of the votes of the small parties - the sixth seat would go to PN (probably Triccas)
C Cilia
Jun 8th 2009, 18:47
@ All Floaters and Labourites coalition Pray that the 4th seat will go to our moderate Marlene Mizzi of the Labour Party. With 35,000votes plus, the Labour party and us deserve this!
Joseph Schembri
Jun 8th 2009, 18:01
@CHARLES ZAMMIT: Joseph Muscat has already agreed to this system ... in fact he claimed it was his idea. Anyhow, this is how elections are run in countries which are not banana republics ...
D Ellul
Jun 8th 2009, 17:45
The sixth seat is going to Marlene Mizzi. Just wait and see.
CHARLES ZAMMIT
Jun 8th 2009, 16:37
there could be no doubt at all either the new seat is given to the absolute winner or else the government must go we cannot have two weights two measures. come on joseph lets show them what we stand for. otherwise we should vote again for a seat that wasnt in play this election then the majority will be more than 55% as those who have not voted labour for shyness sake will now realise that the new majority is an all embracing one a coalition of progressive minded people.
Mark Galea
Jun 8th 2009, 15:45
A great victory for Labour .
Henry Calleja
Jun 8th 2009, 15:44
What a shame! After more than 27 hours we only know one candidate that has been elected! This when the whole of Europe has already the full results of the weekend elections! In this day and age this is intolerable
paul vella
Jun 8th 2009, 15:38
For the attention of the blog editor, if you want to check you don't have to publish this: There must be a mistake somewhere in this report about the sixth seat. The PN after the 7th count with more than 99700 votes has a surplus of nearly 17,000 votes. The PL after the 7th count with more than 136,300 votes has a surplus of more than 12,200. The difference in surplus votes between the two major parties is of nearly 5,000 votes in favour of the PN.
Joseph Vella
Jun 8th 2009, 15:07
Let's hope the party who REALLY deserves the seat gets it....PL obtained a mojority of nearly another quota over PN and has won by a landslide!!!!
Joey
Jun 8th 2009, 15:02
Ghawn xi hadd jifhem kif isir l ghadd tal voti, u meta jibdew it tieni count u meta jintirtu l voti u hekk. Ghandi kurzita pero qatt ma fimt kif isir l ghadd tal voti.