The Labour Party retained its majority in this round of local council elections but its lead was halved by a resurgent Nationalist Party that made gains across the board apart from Gozo.

Labour won 53.5 per cent of the vote as elections were held in 34 towns and villages while the PN got 44.6 per cent. AD and independent candidates together obtained two per cent.

While Labour retained a healthy majority it registered decreases across various areas in Malta, including towns and villages in its southern hinterland. In Birżebbuġa Labour saw its share of the vote drop by over nine per cent, in Marsaxlokk by seven points and in Żurrieq by more than six points.

The result fills us with courage, energy, motivation and determination

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the result filled him with optimism since it was the best ever mid-term result for any government.

“It shows that we are the clear and natural choice of families and businesses across the country,” he said, while at the same time pledging that his government would take heed of the message delivered by those who did not vote Labour.

PN officials and counting agents were smiling yesterday at the counting hall as they saw the 17-point gap of three years ago drop to nine points.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the result meant the PN was “back in business” as he welcomed his party’s gains in a round of elections held in predominantly Labour-leaning areas.

But while the PN benefitted from a six-point swing in Malta it lost ground in Gozo, with even the Munxar council switching to Labour. Labour’s result in Gozo confirmed the party’s growing hold on the Gozitan electorate, which has traditionally been PN-leaning.

We are the clear and natural choice

The elections were an important test for the PN leader after the party suffered a crushing defeat in the European Parliament election last year. “The result fills us with courage, energy, motivation and determination to continue down the road we started,” Dr Busuttil said. The PN saw its share of the vote increase significantly in its northern hinterland. In Swieqi the PN increased its tally by 10 points, in Balzan by eight and in Attard by more than four. It also saw gains in southern areas.

In St Paul’s Bay the PN won a relative majority of the votes but at the time of going to print it was unclear who would take control of the Labour-held council.

In Floriana, the last of the independent mayors, Nigel Holland, lost his seat as Labour won a majority of seats for the first time.

However, the outgoing mayor and another independent candidate together polled almost 19 per cent on the first count.

The PN is back in business

Meanwhile, AD veteran councillor Ralph Cassar seems likely to be re-elected in Attard. The party only fielded six candidates.

The elections are the last electoral appointment before the next general election 2018. Turnout was higher than three years ago, partially as a result of the spring hunting referendum held on the same day.

The referendum is also likely to have contributed to PL’s good showing in Gozo, known to be a hunter hotbed, according to party agents.

Additional reporting: Kim Dalli, Matthew Xuereb.