The Labour Party was savouring a major local elections victory this morning, while setting its sights firmly on the general election.
The party achieved a majority of 55% in what Joseph Muscat described as a strong signal to the government.
He also pointed out that had the government not opted to include Sliema in this round of elections - by dissolving the locality's council - the PL victory would have exceeded 58%.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the main message of the electorate was that the PN had to be close to the people, and that was what it would do.
The outright gains for the PL were control of the formerly PN councils of St Paul's Bay, Qala and Safi.
The battleground of St Paul's Bay was won by a majority of some 500 for the Labour Party.
An even tighter battle was fought in Mosta witht he PN scraping to victory owing to the distribution of voting preferences as AD and independent candidates were eliminated (see separate story).
SLIEMA - JULIAN GALEA LAST CANDIDATE ELECTED
In Sliema, the PN won 61% of the vote, from 68.29% when the council was elected in 2009 in an election held in parallel with the MEPs election. The new council replaces the one which was dissolved last month, and the new council will only serve for a year until the election is held on schedule. Mayor Joanna Gonzi did not seek re-election and the new mayor will be Anthony Chircop, who won 689 votes at the first count.
The only former PN councillor who was seeking re-election, Julian Galea, who cast himself in controversy over comments he made, had a poor showing and was the last candidate to be elected. The highest number of votes in Sliema went to Labour candidate Marianne Aquilina, who won 767.
This election also saw the return of AD to the council with the election of Michael Briguglio.
NEW MAYOR'S FEAT
The biggest gain for the PL was St Paul's Bay, where the new mayor will be Labour's Mario Salerno. This was the first time that Mr Salerno was a candidate for St Paul's Bay and the significance of his election lies in the fact that he was previously mayor of Kirkop. The PL saw his vote percentage in St Paul's Bay rise to 53.4% from 39.48% in the 2008 election, although the turnout was considerably lower.
Outgoing mayor Graziella Galea, who was bitterly disappointed by the outcome, won 1,173 first count votes, down from 1,301 last time.
QALA
In Qala, the PL saw its first count votes rocket from 39% to 50.3%. The new mayor will be newcomer Clint Camilleri, a young architect who before the election presented proposals to convert the former desalination plant at Hondoq Bay into an aquatic sports centre.
SAFI
In Safi, Labour saw its vote climb from 45% to 53%, unseating the PN's Pietru Paul Busuttil from the mayor's seat although he won the highest number of votes at 416, from 464 last time.
ST JULIAN'S SHOCK
St Julian's traditionally a PN stronghold, saw the PN win by a majority of only 51.4%, down from 61.55%. AD here saw their support drop from 5.3% to 4.2% while Labour rose from 33.1% to 43.9%. A big factor here was the poor turnout at just 37% compared to 76.5% in 2008.
SOME PN GAINS
Despite the bad news, there was some silver lining for the PN, which saw percentage gains in localities such as Floriana (from 31.87 to 36.7%), Mosta (from 46.12% to 48.3% now), Munxar (from 46.32% to 51.5%), Nadur (from 57.17% to 58.4%), San Lawrenz (from 67.31 to 69%) Zebbug Gozo (from 62.83% to 64.5%).
PN observers also pointed out this morning that the PL, despite winning 55% of the vote, did not increase its share much from the elections of 2009. In 2007 the PL won 53% of the vote in the council elections.
FORMER AD CANDIDATE ELECTED FOR PN IN SWIEQI
In Swieqi where the turnout was 42% on Saturday, the PN retained its majority, winning 69.9% from 72.7%. Rene Rossignaud previously a successful candidate for AD, was elected on the PN ticket.
QORMI PL TENSION BOILS OVER
In Qormi, Rosianne Cutajar was elected Mayor after a tight contest with incumbent Jesmond Aquilina. Mr Aquilina appeared to be very disappointed by the outcome and shouting was heard in the counting hall, with the police needing to intervene to calm down the situation. Ms Cutajar got 1,445 first count votes and Mr Aquilina got 1,396.
MARSA
In Marsa too, Labour Mayor Francis Debono lost his mayorship to young Christopher Spiteri. Mr Debono is now the deputy mayor. Mr Spiteri got 1,133 first count votes against Debono's 709.
SENGLEA
In Senglea, Labour supporters elected Justin Camilleri as their new Mayor, taking over from Joseph Casha, who came in second.
GZIRA
Labour increased its majority in Gzira, normally regarded as a marginal locality. Roberto Cristiano was elected as the new mayor, succeeding Christian Bonnett, who did not contest.
The PN retained Siggiewi, Kercem, San Lawrenz and Zebbug (G) councils but with new mayors after the incumbents did not contest. The new mayors are Karol Aquilina in Siggiewi, Anthony Formosa in San Lawrenz, Mario Azzopardi in Kercem and Nicky Saliba in Zebbug. In Swieqi, Noel Muscat upstaged incumbent mayor Carmen Said.
ZURRIEQ FORMER MAYOR MAKES STRONG COMEBACK
In Zurrieq, former Mayor Ignatius Farrugia, who did not contest the last election, returned this year and rocketed to the top with 2,544 votes, the equivalent of five quotas. He succeeds Silvio Izzi Savona, who did not contest. The share of the PN's vote dropped by 13% in Zurrieq.