Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said today that the local council elections results, which saw the PN halve its gap to Labour and regain St Paul's Bay council, showed that the PN was half way in its marathon after just two years.

The result, he said, should banish the doubts of those who wondered whether the PN could recover in five years.  

The party, he said, had substantially increased its votes, it won nine new council seats, strengthened its majorities in several localities and regained St Paul's Bay. Significantly, important gains were made in the south of Malta.

"If we could achieve so much in two years - actually in one year considering the EP elections - you can see what can be achieved in another three years," Dr Busuttil told his cheering supporters.

The PN, he said, had advanced against all odds, despite 'buying of votes," for favours, mud-slinging and personal attacks.

But it was important for everyone to realise that the PN had not won yet. Much remained to be done. A lot of hard work was in store. Many more people needed to be convinced, many mistakes needed to be made right.

The PN had so far acted as an Opposition. It remained the opposition party, but it increasingly needed to show itself as the credible alternative government which not only opposed, but also came out with its own proposals.

The PN needed to continue to reform itself, improve its image and efficiency. New initiatives in this regard would be announced in the coming weeks.

The PN, he stressed, had to become the people's party.

Dr Busuttil thanked all those who voted PN, those who returned to the PN fold, and Labourites who voted PN. He said their confidence in the party was 'a treasure' which the PN would work to be worthy of.

He said the PN recognised the gains it made in the south of Malta  and said the party was determined to become, once more, a party for the south as well.

The PN, he said, was also heeding the message from Gozitan voters. It would not give up and would work hard in Gozo to become once more, the majority party there.

The most important outcome of the elections, he said, was that the PN never gave up and it played to win.

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