Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this afternoon that the European elections result showed the Nationalist Party was still far from being the people's natural choice.

"We shall not let this disappointing result discourage us. On the contrary, we will re-double our efforts for the PN to become the people's choice," Dr Busuttil told a press conference.

He said the PN accepted the result with humility and would study it. The party would continue the process of rebuilding itself, including changing its style, if necessary.

He said the PN retained the same number of votes it won in the 2009 EP elections and more or less retained the number of votes it obtained in the general election. The PN failed to win the votes Labour had lost.

The party, he said, had gone into the election with the handicap of 36,000 votes it suffered in last year's general election. It was in a stage when it was still rebuilding its administration and finances.

Dr Busuttil confirmed it was unclear whether the PN would win a third seat, which had been its target. 

Asked if he would resign, Dr Busuttil said the votes for the PN had remained stable and said he would comment further after the outcome of the battle for the sixth seat.

However, he later added "we will stay here in the interests of the party, our duty is to serve the party, not to throw it in disarray."

The party, he said, would also chase the 80,000 people who had not voted in yesterday's election.

"We will stay here for the PN, we appeal for courage, this is a difficult moment for the PN as it was a year ago," Dr Busuttil said.

"Things cannot be changed and recovered in a year, it is a project which needs time," he said.