Updated at 3.50pm with PN statement

Fraud and abuse in the election of nursing council members favoured three candidates, a judicial protest filed yesterday alleged.

The protest, which also lists evidence to prove the accusation, says the process was flawed and demands a public inquiry into the election run by an electoral commission set up to oversee the process.

Corinne Ward and Maria Cassar, both unsuccessful candidates, are also demanding in their protest that Health Minister Chris Fearne should refrain from endorsing the election results and withhold publication until an inquiry was concluded.

The evidence mentioned includes two sets of ballot papers, one of which appears to be photocopied – the rubber stamp on these ballot papers was not original and the same mark consistently appeared on each ballot paper in this set.

The ballot papers in question consistently favoured the three elected candidates.

Suspicion was also raised in relation to the number of votes submitted, which was deemed unusually high

Suspicion was also raised in relation to the number of votes submitted, which was deemed unusually high. Almost 2,000 votes were submitted (twice the usual number) adding to concerns that ballot papers were photocopied to favour those elected, the protest said.

The two candidates said they were denied information of what comprised the unique identifying element of a valid, authentic ballot.

They are arguing that the process did not provide the rigour, transparency and security expected in an election for members holding such an important role.

The nursing council is responsible for the upholding of high professional and educational standards in the sector.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the chief electoral commissioner made it clear that the Electoral Commission "was in no way involved in this election." 

PN calls for independent inquiry

In another statement, shadow minister Claudette Buttigieg called on the Health Minister to appoint an independent inquiry to investigate the alleged abuses and who was behind them.

Mr Fearne, she said, had the moral and political responsibility to take the required action.

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