The Labour Party won the local council elections held on March 8 with 52.2 percent of first count votes, down from 53.16 percent three years ago, vote-counting held all day at Naxxar counting hall has established.
The Nationalist Party saw its tally rise to 46.1 percent from 44.05% three years ago, with the rest of the votes going to AD or independent candidates. However the local elections meant more bad news for Alternattiva, which saw a drop in its votes.
The Nationalist Party regained its majorities in Sta Venera, Mqabba and Mellieha. At Mqabba, the difference was just 10 votes and it was touch and go at Mellieha, with initial indicators pointing to Labour having retained this town..
The PN gained votes in all localities except Nadur and Valletta and won new seats in Kirkop, Xewkija, Mqabba, Sta Venera, Zejtun, St Julians and Mellieha.
The MLP gained a new seat in Ghajnsielem, the first time it will hold two seats in that five-seat council.
Vote counting started at 8 a.m. this morning and is expected to continue until the early hours of Sunday.
The elections mean several localities will have new mayors. In Nadur, former deputy mayor Miriam Portelli clinched the top spot by just one vote over Charles Said while at St Paul's Bay, the mayoral seat has been taken over by new candidate Graziella Galea. At Sta Venera, the new mayor is Elizabeth Vella. At Mellieha, the mayorship will past to the PN's Robert Cutajar.
In the election for Dingli council, Ian Borg , the youngest mayor in Malta and Gozo, was confirmed with more than half the votes cast.
Nationalist candidate Francis Cauchi was re-elected Mayor of Ghajnsielem for the sixth time, having won most votes in the PN-controlled council.
Mr Cauchi has been mayor ever since the local council was established in 1994.
Other mayors confirmed included Antoinette Vassallo (MLP) in Ta' Xbiex, Saviour Borg (PN) in Fontana, John Zammit Montebello (PN) in Balzan, Andrew Vella (PN) in Ghasri, Joseph Casha (MLP) in Senglea, Monica Vella (MLP) in Xewkija, Paul Borg Olivier (PN) in Valletta, Francis Debono (MLP) in Marsa, Silvio Izzi Savona (MLP) in Zurrieq, Joe Attard (MLP) in Zejtun, Anthony Dalli (PN) in Iklin, Peter Bonello in St Julians and Noel Galea in Mqabba.
In terms of the Local Councils Act, the candidate with the highest number of votes from the winning party in each locality becomes mayor.
Picture: Ian Borg, the mayor of Dingli.