Carcades, fireworks and celebrations as Labour supporters hit the streets

Updated 2.45pm

Labour supporters chanted in the Naxxar counting hall, partied at party headquarters and held traditional carcades after a historic fourth victory in a row in a general election. 

As soon as Nationalist Party general secretary Charles Bonello conceded defeat at 11.15am, loud cheers erupted from supporters at the counting complex, with many holding up four fingers to mark a historic fourth straight victory.

Labour Party members at the Naxxar counting complex hold up four fingers signalling the fourth successive victory. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana was quickly hoisted shoulder high waving a calculator, in a nod to a jibe the PN's Adrian Delia made about him during the election campaign. 

Clyde Caruana celebrates the PL victory, with his famous calculator. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

PL supporters chanted "Robert tagħna" (our Robert) and "Viva l-Labour" as they hugged each other. Glenn Bedingfield was seen with tears in his eyes as he was overcome with emotion.

Labour party members and counting agents celebrate as victory is announced in the Naxxar counting complex. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Before the unofficial result was announced, a crowd of supporters had already started gathering outside the PL headquarters at Mile End as the music pumped up and drinks started to flow. Trucks were also seen congregating on the street ready for the celebratory carcading.

There were chants of "ir-Raba' rebħa" (the fourth victory). An AI-generated image of Robert Abela holding up four fingers soon made it on supporters' cars, flags and t-shirts. 

An AI-generated image of PL leader Robert Abela signalling "the fourth landslide" was widely used by supporters. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A supporter is thrown into the air as Labour celebrates outside party headquarters. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

One 18-year-old supporter said Abela was "always there for us youths", adding "everyone won today, Malta won". Another supporter, a man in his 60s said: "Long live Labour! We're all happy and our Malta won".

A heavy police presence was seen outside a quiet and deserted Nationalist Party headquarters just two roads away.

But in some towns the celebrations kicked off even before the official statements from the counting hall as residents reported that fireworks and celebrations had already begun in Għargħur. 

Many took to the streets in their cars honking their horns as carcades made their way through several towns around the island. Some forgot about road safety for an afternoon, with a supporter sitting on the bonnet of a moving car on Marsa's busy Aldo Moro road.

A Labour supporter sits on the bonnet of a moving car on Marsa's busy Aldo Moro road. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ħamrun was the focal point of PL supporters' celebrations as crowds lined the streets watching cars, some specially decorated, drive past honking their horns.

The trickle of supporters soon became a flood, with fireworks and flares and dance music blaring from the speakers as the crowd awaited an address from the party leader. 

Hunters celebrating the Labour victory in Hamrun. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A Labour supporter celebrating the party's fourth win. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli