The Nationalist Party played away in the last round of local elections and not only stemmed the haemorrhage of votes but even managed to make a turnaround, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said yesterday.

He said the PN halved the gap that had separated the two parties in 2012, a result which was encouraging and motivating considering that the PN started off with a 36,000 vote deficit in the 2013 general election.

Still, the party was fully aware of the fact that it still had half the gap to bridge.

The PN won over 14,000 votes over the 2012 local council elections, registering an increase in votes in 24 out of 34 localities.

The PN made inroads at Labour strongholds in the south of Malta, including Birżebbuġa (up 18 per cent), Marsaxlokk (14 per cent), Żurrieq (12 per cent), Kirkop (19 per cent), Paola (eight per cent), Santa Luċija (12 per cent) and Żebbuġ (11 per cent).

The party is fully aware that it still has half the gap to bridge

The PN widened its majority in St Julian’s (up by 19 per cent), Swieqi (17 per cent), San Lawrenz (12 per cent), Attard (11 per cent) and Balzan (13 per cent).

In Mosta, the PN extended its majority to four per cent, or 500 votes, from a nearly dead heat race, while St Paul’s Bay saw a 10 per cent shift towards the PN, which, ultimately, won control of the council.

The PN added six councillors, bringing the total up from 98 to 104. Meanwhile, Dr Busuttil pointed out, the Labour Party saw a decline of nine councillors, for a total of 119.

Twenty-two PN councillors are female, although Dr Busuttil admitted he would have wished to see more women elected. Having a total of 38 young candidates being elected was very satisfying.

Dr Busuttil said the struggle was an uphill one and he expected Labour to intensify the doling out of favours, as well as the insults and the mudslinging. But the PN was determined to be the people’s party, to listen to, visit and respect people. It was ready to mend bridges with those who, in the past, felt hurt by the party.

The local council elections revealed the beginning of the people’s disillusionment with the government and the scandalous affairs it had glossed over, Dr Busuttil said.

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