The first candidates have been declared elected in today’s local council elections, with Nationalist candidates Anthony Formosa and Anthony Cassar tasting success in the first count of the San Lawrenz council vote.

Anthony Formosa won 116 first count votes with Anthony Cassar second at 106. The quota was 75. San Lawrenz is expected to remain under Nationalist control, although a notable absence this year is long-serving outgoing mayor Noel Formosa, who did not contest. The distribution of seats is expected to remain three for the PN and two for the PL, although the PN is expected to see a slight increase in the vote percentage.

A close contest appears to be shaping up in Qala, which had so far been controlled by the PN. Labour’s Clint Camilleri (386) was elected in the first count along with (Mayor) Paul Buttigieg of the PN, who got most votes (406). In the first count votes, the PN got 609 and the PL 616. However, in local council elections, the outcome is not decided by first count votes, as in the case of general elections, but vote distribution down to the last count.

The PN had a majority of 61% in Qala at the last election in 2007.

The PN is expected to keep its majorities in Zebbug, Kercem and Munxar, in Gozo. Vote-counting is still in its early stages in Xaghra (PL) and Nadur (PN).

LABOUR SET TO GAIN SAFI

Counting of votes has started for many of the smaller localities in Malta and Gozo.

Among the smaller localities in Malta, Labour appears on course to gain Safi from the PN, where Pietru Pawl Busuttil has been Mayor. The contest had also been close in Safi at the 2007 elections, with the PN gaining a majority of just 50.8% at the time. Mr Busuttil is expected to be succeeded by Francis Callus of the PL.