Updated 9.35 p.m.

All six successful candidates in the European Parliament elections are now known, but the order of the Labour candidates still has to be established.

Nationalist candidate David Casa was formally declared elected when he achieved his quota and just over 15,000 surplus votes with the elimination of Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas. His final vote was 56,517.

Labour candidate Marlene Mizzi was also eliminated and her votes are being distributed among the other candidates.

Observers said that while Louis Grech and Edward Scicluna had taken the first two Labour seats, only some 800 votes separate third placed John Attard Montalto from Joseph Cuschieri and Mrs Mizzi's votes will therefore determine who will be elected outright and who will become an EP observer until the sixth seat is allocated to Malta in terms of the Lisbon Treaty.

Just before Mrs Mizzi's elimination, Louis Grech had 33,887 votes, Edward Scicluna had 29,949, John Attard Montalto, 27,008, Joseph Cuschieri 26,205 and Marlene Mizzi, 23,047.

LAST VOTE DISTRIBUTION UNDERWAY

Early indications during the sorting process showed that Dr Attard Montalto was keeping his lead over Mr Cuschieri. Prof Scicluna was making some gains on Mr Grech. There is a likelihood that all the Labour candidates will be elected without a quota.

The vote-counting process is expected to last at least up to 10 p.m. - exactly three days after the polling stations closed on Saturday.