Updated 11.45pm with Delia comments

Robert Arrigo is the Nationalist Party's new deputy leader for party affairs while David Agius will assume the role of deputy leader for parliamentary affairs five months after the heavy general election defeat.

The other contender for the party affairs post Toni Bezzina was seen conceding the race around 10.55pm after the first samples started being counted. Mr Arrigo obtained around a whopping 9,168 votes, compared to Mr Bezzina's 1,467.

An emotional Mr Arrigo thanked his supporters and voters but said the party could not ignore those that did not bother to vote.

"Maybe there's a message there we need to heed," he said.

It was a closer race for the post of parliamentary affairs - party whip David Agius obtained 5,737 votes to beat MP Edwin Vassallo who got 4,908 votes. A total of 140 votes were invalid.

Mr Agius said he had always been loyal towards all party leaders, from Eddie Fenech Adami to Adrian Delia. 

Let's make this a winning party once again- David Agius

"I will work to see a constructive and credible opposition. Let's make this a winning party once again," he told those present. 

Party leader Adrian Delia said the election showed the PN was alive and kicking, despite going through a period of renewal after the June election defeat.

"We've shown that the process of democracy in Malta is still strong. We've shown the world that Malta doesn't just have a corrupt government."

A total of 92 per cent (10,785) of those who had picked up their document cast their vote on Saturday, reflecting a heavy turnout.

But one in every three members had failed to collect the voting document for the election, reflecting the internal rifts within the PN, especially since Dr Delia was elected leader. A total of 18,000 members were eligible to vote.

The election comes a day after it was revealed that Clyde Puli will be elected general secretary while Pierre Portelli will head the party media.

All administration posts were contested by a single candidate, meaning they will be automatically elected in the next executive committee meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Adrian Delia (centre) with the two new deputy leaders and their wives.Adrian Delia (centre) with the two new deputy leaders and their wives.

 

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