Imperium Europa's Norman Lowell was the biggest beneficiary of the second preferences made in votes allocated to Josie Muscat in the European Parliament elections.

The distribution of Dr Muscat's 1616 votes after his elimination on the 12 count saw the biggest number, 307 go to Mr Lowell, followed by 203 to AD chairman Arnold Cassola and 109 to the PN's David Casa.

PN candidate Alex Perici Calascione is the next candidate to fall, having won 1, 741 votes.

The counting of votes has now been going on for close to 24 hours at the counting hall in Naxxar, with only Nationalist candidate Simon Busuttil having been elected. The PL is expected to elect three candidates and the PN two, but the destination of the sixth seat is still in doubt with the contest likely between Labour's Marlene Mizzi and the PN's Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas.

The PN had been optimistic of winning the seat because of the bigger number of their surplus votes but the gap has narrowed and Mrs Mizzi has more personal votes.

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