Casual election for Carmelo Abela's seat set for June 26

Labour MP gave up his seat after being appointed Speaker

A casual election to fill the seat on the third district vacated by Carmelo Abela will be held on Friday June 26.

Abela gave up his seat after being appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is due to be sworn in on Saturday at the state opening of Parliament.

He could have retained his parliamentary seat while still serving as Speaker but that would have narrowed the Labour Party’s five-seat majority since an MP serving as Speaker loses his original vote, while holding a casting vote.

Nominations for the casual election will open from Friday till June 23.

The unelected Labour candidates on the third district who may nominate themselves for the casual election are former MP Ray Abela, Martina Buhagiar, James Grech and Eric Plumpton.

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