A court this morning started hearing a Constitutional application filed by the Nationalist Party, which is insisting that recounts should be held of the votes cast in the eighth and 13th districts in the general election.

The party is insisting that a proper count will result in the election of two extra Nationalist MPs, reducing its deficit from the Labour Party in parliament to seven seats from the current nine.

During this morning’s sitting, Therese Comodini Cachia, representing the PN, said the Attorney General should not be part of the proceedings because he was answerable to the government. The Electoral Commission, she argued, was a constitutionally appointed body separate from the government. Therefore, having the Attorney General as part of the proceedings would be a conflict of interest.

Prof Ian Refalo, appearing from the Commission, said that this case was against the state because the Commission did not have the authority to appoint extra MPs.

The judge gave a week for the PN to file its application about the Attorney General and another week for the Commission to reply.

 

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