The Labour Party yesterday obtained the majority of votes in the local council elections, though the Nationalist Party made substantial inroads in several of the 23 localities.
The MLP netted 52.2 per cent of the vote, down from the 53.2 per cent in 2003, though that year elections were not held in Zejtun and Marsa. On the other hand, the PN saw its tally rise to 46 percent from 44 per cent three years ago, with the rest of the votes going to Alternattiva Demokratika or independent candidates.
The MLP won a majority of votes in 12 of the 23 councils, with the other 11 going to the Nationalist Party.
In total, Labour elected 85 councillors while the PN returned 78. The general secretaries of both parties said the outcome was a direct result of the higher turnout because the local elections coincided with the March 8 general election.
The PN regained a majority in St Venera, after losing it three years ago and won back the seat it had lost in Mqabba in the last council elections. It also gained a councillor in Kirkop and Xewkija.
MLP general secretary Jason Micallef said that the party had been expecting to win this round of local council elections, but was also expecting to lose a number of seats.
He expressed satisfaction that the MLP managed to retain its majority in Mellieħa, adding that a number of people who voted for the PN in the general election had voted for Labour councillors.
PN general secretary Joe Saliba told The Sunday Times that yesterday's result continued to underline that local council elections were completely different from the general election, and that people voted in a different manner.
"Nobody should say that winning local council elections signals a victory in the general election."
Most notably, the Nationalist Party increased its percentage of number one votes by 16 per cent in Pembroke. Mr Saliba said this result was attained because Alternattiva Demokratika did not field a candidate in the locality, showing the Greens' direct effect on the PN.
AD only contested six localities, obtaining an average of less than four per cent in each.
In Għajnsielem the MLP gained a seat after the independent councillor failed to contest.
Independent candidates netted 4.5 per cent of votes in Valletta, up from less than one per cent in 2005, leading to a decrease in both the big parties' totals.