Labour wins with huge majority
Muscat 'humbled' by the result
The Labour Party has won a huge general election victory, sweeping to power with a majority of 55% or some 30,000 votes.
The party is expected to have a parliamentary majority of up to nine seats, the biggest since 1955.
AD are projected to have won 1.8 per cent of the vote. None of their candidates was elected.
Joseph Muscat said he was 'humbled' by the result but promised to work with the Opposition and give the people Malta for all the Maltese,
Supporters poured into the streets in celebration, heading towards Labour headquarters in Hamrun, honking their horns and waving and Maltese flags.
This is Labour's first Labour victory in 16 years and its biggest since Dom Mintoff became prime minister for the first time.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi conceded defeat after the first sample of votes as the sorting of ballot papers started. He phoned Joseph Muscat to congratulate him.
In the Naxxar counting hall there were scenes of jubilation as Labour party agents hugged each other with tears in their eyes.
Fireworks were let off in some localities.
Optimism and enthusiasm had been building early in the Labour ranks as opinion polls showed their party consistently in the lead and as vote turnout figures last night showed an appreciable drop only in the PN-leaning districts.
Small crowds started gathering in mid-morning outside PL headquarters and in various squares.
In Cospicua, a man said (at 10 a.m.) that he was sure Labour would win, but, he said, they were holding off celebrations for now because of what happened five years ago (when celebrations were short lived because it was the PN which actually won)
“Even Bormlizi who never voted, not even for Mintoff, came out to vote yesterday,” one elderly man said.
Another man said that five years ago he was celebrating with PN but now he felt that he was in the right place celebrating with Labour.
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stephen mifsud
Mar 11th, 09:26
Gonzi left a big mess for Joseph no doubt about that ...Gonzi knew he was done so now he leaves the "house " a mess fro him to clean up first before he get to what he needs to get done ... dirty politics always from the PN ... but in the end the truth will prevail and the people will win and how fitting when we say Only in Malta because we are the envy of world when we have elections here in malta
ruth klotzer
Mar 11th, 08:04
Le le, haddma kien imdejjaq bil PN
Mark Cassar
Mar 11th, 07:55
The country has voted for change. I, as a Nationalist respect the outcome. Congratulations to the Labour Party and to its supporters. They deserve to enjoy these moments. Let us now carry on with our work. All in all we are all brothers and sisters. And even though we might not agree on certain issues, we must work hard to enhance Malta's success. Good luck Dr. Muscat.
Joseph Agius
Mar 11th, 07:12
A lesson well thought to all politicians from this election .............that the government belongs to the people and not the people to the government. Mayall Maltese work hard and prosper under our new government and may the words of our national anthem be sung with pride.
josette hili
Mar 10th, 22:41
For all your negative comments...sour grapes ! Viva Labour. Malta Taghna Lkoll. Prosit Joseph and all candidates!
anthony sultana
Mar 10th, 19:17
That's what I always said in my comments,that PL is going to be ahead by at least 30,000 votes. My calculations never miss.Now hear another calculation,How can JM make our life so pleasant after GonziPN made a scramble egg out of the way we live.Forget it, soon we will hear nagging that we never heard before.Wait and see .Talk to you later .But never blame JM is a supper intelligent person.
J Borg
Mar 11th, 12:38
Mr Sultana can you please state where you claimed such?
Post a link showing your prediction.
Most of your comments were anti PL & pro AD...mainly due to the hunting issue.
But you are still welcome to join us...because MALTA TAGHNA LKOLL
Kurt Waschnig
Mar 10th, 18:40
After the victory a lot of work is waiting for the Labour Party and Dr Muscat. The standard of living must be improved, adoption of children by gay people shall become true, perhaps in some years same-sex marriage should be possible, strengthen civil rights and making Malta more secular and open minded. The LP is capable to solve the problems. But now celebrate!
Karl Consiglio
Mar 10th, 18:15
Two years to build those tanks Joseph, clock is ticking.
Simon Bonello
Mar 10th, 18:36
tibdiex bl arloggi habib taf l arlogg ta Tonio fejn tefakom issa shut up !!
R Axisa
Mar 10th, 20:17
Where were you when Dr Gonzi promised to reduce income tax during his first year of administration after the 2008 election! Didn't the clock tick for you??
David Magro
Mar 11th, 07:10
Karl, I like your positivness....however you have a long way to wait....Malta taghna lkoll!
Dion Borg
Mar 11th, 08:41
Karl 2 years to "reduce the bills"..!! and Labour would keep it's promise...the tanks,the pipeline..anything that's possible...and that would improve our lifestyle..isthi..!! Enjoy your Lemons...
Godfrey Zammit
Mar 10th, 18:02
For these last 6 weeks I was one of those who wrote in favor of Joseph Muscat and the PL. May I take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Muscat for the enormous win he has done for the PL and the country. Hope that all the PL and PN supporters will get together to better our country for everyone. Hope fully I will be back for the next general election campaign.
Daniel Pisani
Mar 10th, 17:58
yahoo - buckle up and get ready to go back 20 yrs.
Rich Brad saunders
Mar 10th, 18:28
Well done Malta from the UK also to your new leader. Mr.Pisani if only i could go back 20 years, i would certainly feel and look a lot younger then i am now, so going back 20 years or more is wishful thinking sunshine, however we can't turn the clock back, the Italians can with their tanks 1 forward and 6 reverse gears(a well known joke amongst us Britons). maybe its not a bad idea after all.
ruth klotzer
Mar 11th, 08:03
Wouldn't that be great if Dr. Muscat can undo the damage that the PN did in these last 20 years!
Jason Zammit
Mar 10th, 17:55
Nistenna li sentejn ohra il kont tad dawl jinzel b 25% u mux b 24.5 ....... 2 Years to go dear prime minister.....any way good luck
D Zarb
Mar 10th, 17:51
Malta Springs
Mr Mario Mifsud
Mar 10th, 17:18
The election has been won by the Labour Party as a result of a 6 % swing from the PN to the PL.
vincent Lia
Mar 10th, 17:47
'The biggest majority since 1955'. Well that government lasted three years a bit longer than 22 month. I know what happened three years later, the labour government left us in the hands of our British Rulers and they swept the floor with us. We were left at the mercy of a foreign power after sensible Maltese people voted against Integration.
Mr Mario Mifsud
Mar 10th, 18:30
Apart from the new face of Joseph Muscat and the grotesque or bizarre behaviour of Austin Gatt, two other factors have in my opinion contributed to this surprising and unusual result:
- the passing away of Peter Serracino Inglot who was the PN strategist par excellence , and was not replaced or replaceable.
-the passing away of Dom Mintoff closing the fracture within the PL.
Charles Taliana
Mar 10th, 17:15
Kemm kien tajjeb is slogan ta Simon Gas down fil hajt !!!!
Noel Cuschieri
Mar 10th, 18:51
Both Simon and Tonio Fenech said so!! Probably only THEY were going "dritt gol-hajt" with their comments!!
Mr Mario Mifsud
Mar 10th, 17:13
The electoral results show a 12 point majority for the Labour Party, a swing of 6% from PN to PL.
AD vote practically unchanged
Mr Mario Mifsud
Mar 10th, 17:23
when compared with the 2008 election result.
M Grima
Mar 10th, 17:07
nawguralek dr muscat. kulhadd kien jaf li int kont se titla. jien nispera biss li issa xoghlok taghmlu ahjar milli ghamlu l-gvern tal-bierah. grazzi u nerga nawguralek mill-gdid.
Matthew Grima
Mar 10th, 17:01
I really hope that none one in Malta would be wishing for the country to collapse so they could say I told you so.
Lets hope Joseph keeps to his word and works with everyone based on what they offer and not who they know.
Steve Zammit
Mar 10th, 17:01
Ma itihomx tort imsieken rebhu darba f'25 sena u qas damu sentejn lol
Insomma, awguri Muscat u j'Alla tibni fuq l-gid li hallew l-PN !
D Zarb
Mar 10th, 17:50
Grazzi hafna imma l ewwel irridu innehhu l korruzjoni u t tahwid li halla jsir taht imniehru Gonziu l klikka tieghu.
Jesmond Degabriele
Mar 10th, 19:32
IL-GID ISIR BIS-SERJETA FIT-TMEXXIJA,HABIB.IZ-ZMIEN ITINA PARIR.
Jeff Mead
Mar 10th, 16:41
Most of us expats already sassed out the defeat of your NP.we seen it coming months ago and his cards were numbered. Lets hope that our labour party in the UK will follow suit and win the forth coming elections in due course. Congrats are in order for Mr.Muscat now lets hope that we get what he promised us all if he won the election...remains to be seen.
Roberta Debono
Mar 10th, 17:18
Thank you Mr.Mead, yes most definitely congratulations are in order for the Malta Labour Party, have no worries my British friend or any nationality for that matter, What Mr.Muscat promised before the election, be sure that he will deliver, after all he is one of our youngest PM with modern ideas and does not do any U_turns.
Michel Bencini
Mar 10th, 16:37
Mr.Muscat, time to roll up your sleeves and start working and delivering. You owe many a favour for this victory. CAVEAT. Remember one thing; human nature is very ungrateful. So focus on what is good for the nation not for party members or opportunists who believe they are owed. Those are as fickle as the wind. Maltese entrusted THEIR government to you as their SERVANT not their master. Nawguralek
Bernard Bonnici
Mar 10th, 16:41
Lawrence Gonzi learnt the lesson the hard way that 'human nature is very ungrateful'.
Alfred J. McEwen
Mar 10th, 16:19
Congratulations to Dr Joseph Muscat and the Labour Party for effecting a tremendous win in this election and it is hoped that Anglu Farrugia will be given a portfolio along with Louis Grech these two who everyone considers to be great politicians.
J. Pace
Mar 10th, 16:14
Prosit PL u awguri. J'alla pajjiz jibqa sejjer il quddiem ghal gid tal maltin kollha...
Marie Roberts
Mar 10th, 16:11
I am so proud that I, who am half Maltese, was given the right as a Maltese Citizen to vote Labour.
j brincat
Mar 10th, 16:00
'Hope springs eternal' - thanks God spring came to Malta eleven days EARLIER!
jb
Carmel J. Caruana
Mar 10th, 15:52
Congratulations PL. Now please dont let us down, this country needs a boost in the proper direction - authentic good management of the economy and the elimination of corruption.
Terry COURTNADGE
Mar 10th, 15:27
We should not let our spirits rise too high for then they will have far to fall.
Getting the job done -and started promptly will be the evidence, winning the most votes isn't.
Let's see if it's not just business as usual in say..... nine months time.
Gordon Farrugia
Mar 10th, 15:40
If its business as usual it would be RUIN. Because the PN left over 6 billion of debt and its growing fast. So much for 'finanzi fis-sod''
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:13
Gordon Farrugia
The election campaign has finished quite some time ago.
Our economy has done well.....just ask the Greeks, Cypriots, Spanish, Italians, Portuguese.....if they would be willing to exchange their successes in economy with ours!
Terry COURTNADGE
Mar 10th, 16:22
@Gordon Farrugia : I didn't mean in purely financial terms - I meant - will lives of so many who are expecting so much will be dramatically improved in say....nine months time? I wasn't being partisan.
eddy towers
Mar 10th, 15:07
well done to the labour party for winning the election and to the people that voted for it. now lets see if they can keep the promises that they made to the people of malta. when keeping these promises make sure that you do it quickly and not do it over 5 yrs as the last government did. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. good result for siggeiwwi !!!!!!!!
Shawn Grixti
Mar 10th, 15:06
My greatest congratulations to a great leader and to the MLP and to the maltese population! This will be written in history books of when Malta is led by a proper government, that won with a record breaking percentage and growing!!
For those talking non sense with bitterness all I can say is grow up and open your eyes to a new era.
David Bezzina
Mar 10th, 14:44
A big WELL DONE to the Labour Party.......a huge win by our electoral standards.
Time for the hard work to begin !!!!
daniela caruana
Mar 10th, 14:15
kemm kellu ragun eddie meta fil- mass meeting il hamis li ghadda qal li sewwa dejjem jirbah .
twanny borg
Mar 10th, 16:08
Naraw fi zmien sentejn mil-lum....
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:14
The proof of the pudding is in the eating...........................
Jesmond Degabriele
Mar 10th, 19:37
PROSIT DANIELA.
Simon Abela
Mar 10th, 14:13
Congratulations to the PL and Dr Joe Muscat. The PN neglected the Maltese never invested in the Maltese, but only in the Klikka.
Anyway great beginning and proud to see the change to the PL. Gonzi and the PN skadutti
Simon Abela
Dallas Texas USA
Joseph Mifsud
Mar 10th, 14:12
Well done too jm. I thank all those that were behind the pl.
I am sure that we will have good governnance
Kurt Waschnig
Mar 10th, 14:04
Mr. Joseph Muscat will be the new Prime Minister of Malta and lead Malta the next 5 years. The Maltese were not satisfied with the last 5 years and they have given the Labour Party the electoral mandate to govern Malta. The new government shall always keep DOM MINTOFF in mind, he is Malta´s greatest son. If they do that, the Labour Party will govern successfully and offer the Maltese hope.
Pule' Carmel
Mar 11th, 01:54
Mintoff and other politicians did well as long as the British Military were in Malta and supplying us with a secure income which Mntoff shared with all Locals. As an Independent country, it is not easy to be Prime Minister to shoulder the economy which generats all the revenue to keep employment for caretaking services rather than weath generators. All people in Malta must realize this!
Svetlana Borg
Mar 10th, 13:54
Malta tagħna lkoll - f'kull sens!!
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:14
Nispera li mhux MALTA TAGHNA KOLLHA
Joseph Borg
Mar 10th, 13:53
GAS DOWN GOL HAJT. L AKBAR TELFA LI PARTIT QATT GARRAB
j brincat
Mar 10th, 13:49
Malta Taghna Lkoll"
After tomorrow it's business as usual!
And this thanks to the new PM of the Island of Malta and Gozo - Dr Joseph Muscat!
jb
Mark Fanciulli
Mar 10th, 16:02
Business as usual ???????. from tomorrow he needs to start delivering the promises he made by reducing the electricity bills and all the promises he did . like building the PowerStation in two years and by approving the pn budget. But I am wasting my time replying to you because you are genius you know everything because you waste a lot of time writing on every article that appears here.
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:16
He is off to Brussels......How Ironic!
History is made!
cesco di luigi
Mar 10th, 13:48
May I publcily thank Lou Bondi Peppi Azzopardi and Ausdin Gatt for handing on a silver plate this PL victory. I will not mention DCG because those who choose not to follow her do not have to as she does not appear on PBS. Thanks again Lou Peppi and Aust>
Geoffrey Farrugia
Mar 10th, 13:56
just those two??
Kurt Waschnig
Mar 10th, 13:48
The Labour Party is the great winner of the general election in Malta. CONGRATULATIONS to the Labour Party. It is the Labour´s first victory in 16 years. The general election victory of the Labour Party is too a landmark in the recent history of Malta like the referendum on divorce. Now the Labour must prove that it is able to make Malta a better place for all even for migrants.
P Bonnici
Mar 10th, 14:14
You are obsessed with migrants. Go and tell this to your countrymen in Germany.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2290480/Romanian-migrants-blamed-rise-crime-German-town-Duisburg.html
P Bonnici
Mar 10th, 15:22
Kurt Waschnig read this, it is relevant to Malta:
UK anti-trafficking efforts need overhaul, report says
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21719778
Alfred J. McEwen
Mar 11th, 18:40
That`s right Kurt go and crawl off and beg your country to admit thousands of them ...I think you`ll go far on that one.
Christine Farrugia
Mar 10th, 13:47
Forza MALTA
Joseph Mifsud
Mar 10th, 13:44
Gonzi expired on 10.03.2013.
Apparently his negative campaign did not win.
Maybe they should consult franco debono why they lost the election.
Geoffrey Farrugia
Mar 10th, 13:58
Gonzi expired in 2008.
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:19
Gonzi stepped down today....he left JM with the best ever budget from the EU.
Good luck to the new government....Keep in mind that not just labourites voted you in..................
Joe Xuereb
Mar 10th, 13:44
Far away from my homeland, just minutes ago, I opened my eyes &, still dazed, fumbling with my laptop, I read the good news. & I feel great, I feel I'm 7 feet high.
Congratulations Muscat. Sure, it's quite an achievement to be the youngest PM ever and your opponents tried to downgrade you by saying it was your ambition. Maybe. But you are much more than your ambition. Thank you for being you.
Alan Xuereb
Mar 10th, 17:21
2nd youngest prime minister
j brincat
Mar 10th, 13:40
Gonzi said that he would NOT resign!
So, after this landslide victory (since time immoral) will Gonzi resign?
jb
J Martinelli
Mar 10th, 13:50
First of all, congratulations to the LP & its supporters.
J Brincat, Dr. Gonzi, if you cared to hear his Press Conference, stated clearly that he will follow the Party's Statute which requires a leadership review within 3 months of an election result & at that time he will not present himself as a candidate.
Unlike the PL leader who arbitrarily chops heads off, the PN has a procedure in place.
J Martinelli
Mar 10th, 13:51
j brincat, are you saying that Labour's victory was 'immoral'?
J Martinelli
Mar 10th, 13:53
I hope Joseph's plan for Gozo does not translate into reducing Minister for Gozo to the status of Parliamentary Secretary.
H. Wait
Mar 10th, 14:23
You are wrong j. brincat as he will not be contesting the next elections for the party leader.
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:20
Listen to his press conference!
j brincat
Mar 10th, 13:38
AND so it's clear that even 'Ghawdex' is Taghna Lkoll!
jb
A. Mizzi
Mar 10th, 13:42
Ta' Gonzi u tal-PN qatt ma kien alla volja ghamluh taghhom!
Ghawdex mhux biss tal-Ghawdxin imma tal-Maltin ukoll kif anki Malta hi taghhom!
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:21
Taghkom kollu....Diga....
Ma tantx jawgura tajjeb!
Muscat mhux hekk qed jghid!
j brincat
Mar 10th, 13:35
So enters the genius:JOSEPH!
JB
j brincat
Mar 10th, 13:34
JUST imagine being humbled by a 'boy' or so they said!
But Malta is 'Taghna Lkoll'! So it's time for 'real' and I mean' real' reconciliation not like that of 1987!
jb
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:22
In 1987, many of your fellow citizens had suffered from physical and mental abuse by the Labour regime. Recociliation then was a FACT...The perpetrators of abuse never reconciled and never will!
Logan Fenech
Mar 10th, 13:32
Malta, you've made your bed.... now lie in it
Michael Sammut
Mar 10th, 16:29
Sour grapes?
A. Mizzi
Mar 10th, 13:31
Kollu tort ta' Dr. Joseph Muscat.... u ta' Lawrence Gonzi wkoll !
Is-SEWWA JIRBAH ZGUR u hekk gara!
Emanuel Farrugia
Mar 10th, 13:26
Iz-zejt telgha fil-wicc issa. A big big victory from PL. Well done. Keep it up.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
T. Caruana
Mar 10th, 13:24
Dan il-pajjiz illum immexxi mill businessmen..li anki il-ministri ta valuri sodi cedew ghalhom.
Ma saret l-ebda bidla. Il-labour ghamel studji mal-privat li issa se jiehu xi haga lura. tenders mghagla, habi ect.
ma nbidel xejn
IBQA HALLAS GAHAN!!!!!
Patrick Zammit
Mar 10th, 13:23
Pity JM had to prostitute himself with those whose only interest is to destroy the environment and biodiversity.
PL won but the environment lost big time.
Tony Borg
Mar 10th, 13:46
The environment lost a long time ago or are you blaming the new government for that!
Patrick Zammit
Mar 10th, 14:02
TB
No i'm not.
JM knew he had a sound majority but failed to take certain decisions for which, he would have earned greater respect.
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:23
Hunters won!
Geoffrey Farrugia
Mar 10th, 13:23
I am hearing Dr Fenech talking live on PBS - incredible..she is attributing the pn defeat on everything and everyone but not on itself. it is corruption and nepotism Dr Fenech one of the reasons amongst many others.
Jeffrey Mallia
Mar 10th, 13:33
She even said that the PL victory is of the benefit and success of GonziPN govt !!!! Unbelivable
Charles Micallef
Mar 10th, 13:19
This is to confirm that sheer arrogance and nepotism no longer rules on these Islands as Malta belongs to one and all and not to the chosen few!!!
Geoffrey Farrugia
Mar 10th, 13:24
well said!
J Martinelli
Mar 10th, 14:01
We have 5 years to see humility, fairness and meritocracy blossom under a Labour government! It is an opportunity for the new 'Moviment' to live its own promises and not go from department to department and weed out all those whose political leanings are not quite in sync with the PL's. not exactly as promised by Helena Dalli & al.
anthony sultana
Mar 10th, 13:17
For a long time I had been telling GonziPN that he is going dawn hill very fast,but he chooses not to listen. Look at the result now Mr Gonzi.Please Mr Gonzi resign.
Prosit and I am very happy for you Dr Muscat .The best politician that we ever had in our political history.
Aaron Debattista
Mar 10th, 13:15
I hope that now we can all live in harmony, accept this new government, and work together as one.
Lydia Pace Workman
Mar 10th, 14:34
This is by far the best post here. We all need to move on without sitting on our laurels. The people have spoken and we all need to listen. All of us supporting PN now need to take heed of this warning and continue to work together for the next five years to come back bigger and stronger, with humility and a sense of having grown by learning from mistakes made. Things happen for a reason.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Mar 10th, 13:14
It is amply clear the Nationalist party deserves a new beginning as well. Out with the old cobwebs! In with new blood!
J Micallef
Mar 10th, 13:14
Merited, I beleive, though with great disappointment about the PN''s performance.
Anyway, ball now in the court of PL.
As for PN, I hope that those big heads that long term inflicted more damage than good (read: public transport, oil scandals, valletta city gate project) are not elected, and that this is the beginning of a purification process for PN.
Congratulation PL, even though I didnt vote
Victor Rodenas
Mar 10th, 13:12
Iz-zejt tela` fil- wicc u s-sewwa rebah.
J Micallef
Mar 10th, 13:15
Issemmijx iz-zejt... ;-)
Denis Pace
Mar 10th, 16:24
issa l-gass se jitla
Noel Mifsud
Mar 10th, 13:11
Jien wiehed minn dawk li hrigt nivvota minn wara ir referendum. Naghti il kondoljanzi tieghi lil familja ta dan is sewwiq
Kevin Sammut
Mar 10th, 13:11
I'm just glad its all over. Time to move foward . I believe there are more things that unite us then divide us. We all breathe the same air and we all want whats best for our children.
Miranda Fothergill
Mar 10th, 13:38
Well said.
Please choose the reason of your report below: