An additional seat

In response to Charles Camilleri's letter on the sixth EP observer seat (February 2) it should be pointed out that this issue is not of an inherited existing seat, thus meaning by-election.

This is an additional observer seat, allocated for the 2004-2009 period. According to Malta's STV system, which has been in use since 1921 and which was also used for the election of Malta's representatives to the 2004-2009 European Parliament, individual seats are granted to their respective occupiers through the will of the electorate as finalised on the last count of votes.

The Electoral Commission report on the final results of elections for the choice of Malta's representatives to the European Parliament 2004-2009 has been published and is available to all. The extra sixth observer seat for the 2004-2009 period is to be given to the one candidate who, according to the Electoral Commission report on the elections for the 2004-2009 EP, has ended sixth at the final count.