Labour Party deputy leader Michael Falzon has said he has a “precise idea” of who will win the election, but it would be premature and irresponsible to say who at this stage.

Speaking to Ariadne Massa at the Naxxar counting hall, Dr Falzon said he was confident that the winner would have an ‘absolute majority’ of first count votes.

MLP general secretary Jason Micallef said he was very happy with the way things were going and he confirmed that he expected the winning party to have an absolute majority, but did not wish to say more at this stage,

Labour MEP Joseph Muscat said it would be speculative to comment on a Labour victory but the party had indications and feedback which, he said, could surprise many people.

Meanwhile PN sources in the counting hall said the party expected to win most of the votes of new voters but in general it saw a swing of 1.7 percent to Labour. One still had to see whether that would be enough to tilt the balance to Labour.

Minister Louis Deguara, who is in the counting hall, said it was far too early yet to say which way the election would go.

Meanwhile at Naxxar the vote reconciliation process is continuing and nearing its end, although the 10.30 a.m. deadline has been missed. The sorting of votes, when the votes start to be counted, is expected to start at around 12.30.

Although vote counting has not even started, MLP celebrations have been reported in some localities such as Hamrun, Paola and San Gwann and a number of people have gathered outside MLP headquarters. At Zebbug, ground fireworks have been let off.

PN general secretary Joe Saliba arrived at the counting hall at around 11 a.m., along with IT Minister Austin Gatt.

Picture: Dr Falzon with MLP officials in an increasingly crowded counting hall in Naxxar.