A judge this morning ruled against a court application filed by the Labour Party disputing the court’s jurisdiction over a case instituted by the Nationalist Party contesting the election process.

The PN is arguing that there were mistakes in the counting process that affected the outcome of the result,  which would have meant that the PN could have won two more seats.

Labour argued that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear this case.

However, Madam Justice Jacqueline Padovani ruled that the First Hall of the Civil Court did have the jurisdiction to hear the evidence in connection with this case and therefore ruled the continuation of the case according to law.

The issue revolves around a mistake in the counting process on the eighth district when a packet of 50 votes for Claudette Buttigieg was mistakenly transferred to PN candidate Michael Asciak. Dr Asciak later got eliminated and Labour’s Edward Scicluna was elected instead.

Paul Lia is representing Labour MPs Justyne Caruana, Joe Debono Grech and Edward Scicluna while lawyer Therese Comodini Cachia appeared for the PN.