Updated 6.30pm -  Former Nationalist MP Peter Micallef again took his oath as a member of Parliament this evening but resigned within minutes to make way for PN leader Adrian Delia to be co-opted to Parliament.

Dr Micallef was elected in a casual election held in the morning for the seat vacated by Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Debono.

This was the third time Dr Micalef had made it to parliament. He was elected in a casual election in 2010, to fill the seat vacated by John Dalli and served in the House until 2013. 

Dr Micallef being sworn in as MP. Photo: Clifton Fenech, DOI

He then found his way back in parliament in the last legislature, taking up one of the two seats allocated to the PN by the court following the case over vote-counting mistakes.

In a brief address to the House this afternoon, Dr Micallef asked the Speaker to immediately accept his resignation “for the country to have a strong Opposition and properly functioning House”.

Immediately after being sworn in, Opposition whip David Agius asked the Speaker to grant Dr Micallef time to make a brief statement.

Thanking his wife, family, and friends for their support, Dr Micallef said that to be an MP was to be service to the people, to give one’s all for the citizens of Malta and it’s Republic.

“I am here for a particular reason, Jean Pierre Debono resigned his seat, for the new leader of the Nationalist Party to join this House,” he said, adding that he was happy to be a part of this process.

After thanking outgoing Opposition leader Simon Busuttil for serving “even at personal expense”, and congratulating Dr Delia on taking over the party leadership, he asked the Speaker to accept his resignation.

In comments after his re-election, Dr Micallef confirmed his intention to step down, but said he was honoured to have done his part to strengthen the PN. 

Asked if he had been offered any position in the party in return for renouncing his seat, Dr Micallef said no such offer had been made. 

Peter Micallef (right) is congratulated by Jean-Pierre Debono.

Today's casual election was held among candidates of the Nationalist Party in the seventh electoral district. A candidate of the Democratic Party also entered the race.

The candidates were Sam Abela, Joseph Antoine Borg, Dounia Borg, Lee Bugeja Bartolo (PD), Peter Micallef, David Vassallo and Ian Mario Vassallo.

After the first count, Peter Micallef got 1,258 votes, 380 below the quota.

Sam Abela got 529, Anthony Borg 551, Dounia Borg 76, Lee Bugeja Bartolo 78, David Vassallo 474, Ian Vassallo 296.

Dounia Borg, Lee Bugeja Bartolo and Ian Vassallo were been eliminated, which means the PD was no longer in the running. 

In the second count, Dr Micallef got 1,341 votes. Sam Abela was at 639, Antoine Borg at 673 and David Vassallo at 590. 

Dr Micallef moved closer in the third count, with 1,540 votes. Sam Abela had 840 and Antoine Borg 847.

Dr Micallef was elected in the final count with 1,719 votes. 

The quota was 1,653. 

The new MP is expected to be sworn in the House this evening. He will give a brief speech and then resign.

Dr Delia, who visited the counting hall this morning, is expected to be sworn in as an MP tomorrow and will be sworn in as leader of the opposition on Friday.

Adrian Delia and Jean Pierre Debono (right) at the counting hall this morning. Photos: Jonathan Borg