The government has decided that the 2015 local elections will go ahead as scheduled but the elections due in 2017 will be postponed to 2019, Justice and Local Government Minister Owen Bonnici announced this afternoon.

The council elections next year will be held with the referendum on Spring hunting once the courts give the go-ahead.

The government's purpose, Dr Bonnici said, was for the term of the councils to be extended to five years from the current four and for the elections to coincide with the European Parliament elections, saving money and avoiding voter fatigue.

Just over a week ago the prime minister had said that the government would be announcing a 'compromise solution' which would respect electoral mandates while being practical. The solution, he said, followed suggestions made in a public consultation process. He was confident most of the public would agree with it.

The government had originally indicated it wanted to postpone all the elections, including those due next year, to 2019, to coincide with the European Parliament elections, thus cutting costs.

The PN had strongly opposed the plan.

In a statement today Opposition leader Simon Busuttil welcomed the government's decision. He said the Opposition had been proved right and the government had retreated.

See his comments below.