The vote counting process at Naxxar counting centre is slowly drawing to a conclusion, almost three days after the end of voting for the European Parliament on Saturday.

Labour Party agents have been celebrating in the corridors of the counting hall ever since it became clear earlier this afternoon that their party would win four of the six EP seats.

Labour deputy leader Anglu Farrugia said the four-seats was a justified reflection of the strength of the PL victory, which had seen it attain a 55% vote majority with a 35,000 vote difference over the Nationalist Party.

So far only Nationalist MP Simon Busuttil has actually been elected on the basis of surpassing the quota. The other candidates(with the exception of David Casa) may be elected without achieving the quota as the candidates who got less votes are eliminated.

Claudette Abela Baldacchino's votes have now been passed on to the other candidates and Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas (PN) has been eliminated.

While incumbents Simon Busuttil and David Casa will occupy the PN seats, Louis Grech, Edward Scicluna and John Attard Montalto will take three Labour seats. Mr Casa currently has 38,256 votes; Mr Grech, 33,721; Prof. Scicluna, 29,763; Dr Attard Montalto, 26,974; Mr Cuschieri, 26,170 and Ms Mizzi, 22,882.

The vote counting is expected to be completed by 8 p.m.

Dr Farrugia promised that the Labour MEPs would work hard on behalf of the PL in the interests of all the Maltese, their purpose being to promote a European policy that was best suited for Malta.