Labour leader Joseph Muscat this evening hailed his party's victory at the June 6 local council elections, pointing out that the party had achieved 54 percent of the popular vote despite a much bigger turnout than when these same elections were held three years ago.

Dr Muscat told a press conference that the fact that the PL had lost its majorities in San Gwann and Pieta and had not regained the majority it lost last year in Mtarfa, showed that the party needed to get closer to the people of those localities.

He however underlined gains made by Labour, including a second seat in Mgarr and growth in Sannat and Gharb.

Dr Muscat said the party would analyse the message which came out of this election and it remained committed to listening to all the people, even those who did not vote for it.

Now that the elections were over, however, the councillors needed to put aside partisan politics and work in the interests of their localities.

Dr Muscat also welcomed the fact that a quarter of the elected candidates were women and a third were young people, saying this was significant as this sectors had an active role in the forging of a new, progressive movement.

Dr Muscat criticized the Prime Minister for trying to turn this into something of a PN victory, saying the government needed to hear what the people were saying and feeling.