Julian Galea, the PN candidate who was embroiled in controversy over recorded comments broadcast by the Labour Party, just managed to get re-elected to Sliema council this afternoon.
Mr Galea was the only serving PN councillor to seek re-election but his chances had been badly dented when the PL revealed recordings of comments he had made.
The PL said the recordings showed that Mr Galea had a phobia for Labourites.
He was heard saying, among other things, that he paid his Labour employees less than Nationalists.
The PN had said his comments were unacceptable and Mr Galea apologised.
Mr Galea only just managed to get re-elected. He got just 233 first-count votes and was re-elected on the 17th count without a quota. The quota was 517 and he had 376 votes.