Successful Labour candidates Louis Grech, Edward Scicluna and John Attard Montalto gave their first comments to timesofmalta.com during a visit to the counting hall in Naxxar this afternoon.

(See the comments by Prof Scicluna and Mr Grech on video above).

John Attard Montalto, who is expected to be declared Labour's third MEP this evening, admitted that he had been elected through the inheritance of votes but he said he did not really believe that his surname starting with an A had anything to do with it.

Dr Attard Montalto's chances of being elected had been slim before the elimination of Claudette Abela Baldacchino, who preceded him on the ballot sheet and from whom he inherited enough votes to move from fifth to third position on the PL's list.

He told timesofmalta.com that had he been elected because of his name, than he was very lucky but on the other hand, if that was the case he had no need to campaign.

Dr Attard Montalto thanked the 11 other candidates representing Labour saying that together they were a formidable team.