Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the Nationalist Party lost 11,500 votes since the last round of local council elections and saw its voting share drop by about five per cent.

The results confirmed the party had a lot of work to do to convince people – even on a national level – that the PN understands the needs of families.

He said the results also showed the electorate was fed up of partisan politics, arrogance and bureaucracy and simply wanted efficient, creative and sincere politicians who worked with dedication and integrity.

“The message to us all is that we need to hear what families are telling us,” Dr Gonzi told the press with the PN’s elected councillors sitting behind him. “We need to be closer to the people than we have been so far.”

The low turnout showed the electorate wanted the PN to respond to voters’ needs. Dr Gonzi referred to the speech he gave when he was confirmed PN leader two weeks ago, describing it as a precursor to yesterday’s result.

The party was aware that it could not simply focus on managing the country but was expected to go a step further and address the needs of families and individuals.

Dr Gonzi said it was disappointing to lose majorities in Safi, Qala and St Paul’s Bay and to see such a record low turnout, particularly in Nationalist strongholds.

However, Labour only increased its votes by 150, he said.

Asked if he regretted keeping Sliema candidate Julian Galea on the party ticket after he was recorded speaking about his “phobia” for Labourites, Dr Gonzi said the electorate was “supreme” and its decisions should be respected.

He stressed, however, that his party had condemned Mr Galea’s comments unreservedly.

Mr Galea, who only got 233 first count votes and looked like he would not be elected, got the 11th seat in the eleventh hour and was elected without a quota.