The MEP elections were a "sweet and sour" experience for Simon Busuttil who netted two-thirds of the Nationalist Party's first count votes and was the first person elected by a huge majority.
The 40-year-old lawyer was home and dry just after 4 a.m. yesterday with a staggering 68,782 votes - almost 10,000 more than he won five years ago.
"I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by the electorate, but on the other hand I am deeply disappointed by the result for the party," Dr Busuttil told The Times.
The Labour Party won Saturday's election with a landslide victory of around 55 per cent to the Nationalists' 40 per cent.
This is the second time Dr Busuttil has faced a bittersweet result. Five years ago he was also elected on the first count as Labour clinched victory with 48 per cent.
The situation could be worse if Labour wins the sixth seat, which would be given an observer status from January until the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, Dr Busuttil said.
Sounding exhausted, Dr Busuttil said his improved result made him feel he was carrying an even greater responsibility: "Getting so many votes places even more pressures."
The situation was hardly as rosy for Labour candidate Sharon Ellul Bonici, who, despite an intensive campaign, won 6,051 first count votes - a mere 4.5 per cent of the party's total.
However, she remained upbeat: "I am happy to have contributed towards the party's victory."
She admitted she was not surprised by the result, adding the polls had indicated she was not among the frontrunners.
Meanwhile, the usually talkative Vince Farrugia, the face behind the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, GRTU, who contested on the PN ticket, was unwilling to speak yet: "I am not commenting until the counting is over. It's the end result that counts." His first-count tally was 6,382.
But another Nationalist candidate, Frank Portelli, the owner of St Philip's Hospital, was as outspoken as usual, saying the people had sent a very strong protest vote to the party.
"They are hurt because of the water and electricity bills, the cost of living, the performance of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the long hospital waiting lists," he said.
Dr Portelli, who garnered 2,459 first count votes, believes he got the brunt of the protest vote: "I got all the flak which was meant for ministers."
The PN's green candidate, Alan Deidun, felt the 3,239 first count votes he obtained was a fair result, especially considering he only started campaigning three months ago on a shoestring budget.
Dr Deidun did better than former nurses' union president Rudolph Cini, European Commission Representation official Edward Demicoli and lawyer Alex Perici Calascione.
"It was not a level playing field and some candidates had more resources. I would have performed better had I had the same resources," the environmentalist said.
Asked whether big parties should give more support to green candidates, Dr Deidun said politicans had finally understood that green issues were entrenched in the political agenda.
"They need to allow more self-criticism within the party and allow people to openly voice their disagreement with it," he added.
He did not exclude contesting another election, although he pointed out he first had to discuss this with the PN and his wife.
"It is still early to think about it," he initially said, although he quickly added that he liked politics and would consider contesting the next MEP election or even the general election. However, local council elections did not entice him.
Several attempts to contact Labour candidate and outgoing MEP John Attard Montalto, who performed worse than expected, were futile.
Dr Attard Montalto was on the way to losing his seat after garnering just 12,880 first count votes - half the number of 2004. However, nobody could accuse the lawyer of not campaigning hard enough. Just last week, individually wrapped kitchen utensils with his flyer inside were being distributed during a party activity in Paola.