As it happened: PN candidates elected in casual elections
12 further women MPs elected through gender corrective mechanism
Seven PN candidates were elected in casual elections held on Tuesday morning, with an additional 12 women MPs (six per party) elected to parliament through a gender corrective mechanism.
Andrew Agius, Stanley Zammit, Graziella Attard Previ, Ian Vassallo, George Vital Zammit, John Baptiste Camilleri and Graham Bencini will all represent the PN in Malta's next parliament, having been elected in casual elections for seats vacated by PN candidates elected in two districts.
They will be joined by Bernice Bonello, Julie Zahra, Norma Camilleri, Anabelle Cilia, Marilena Gauci and Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto, who were elected on the PN ticket through a gender corrective mechanism.
The Labour Party also had six women MPs added through that mechanism: they are Cressida Galea, Fleur Abela, Francesca Zarb, Yana Borg Debono Grech, Deborah Schembri and Romilda Zarb.
The PN's casual elections follow similar ones held last week for seats vacated by Labour candidates.
As it happened
Cassola's no-show
10.27am With two 10th district seats up for grabs, Momentum's Arnold Cassola could have been in with a shot at getting elected. But Cassola chose not to contest today's casual elections.
Our journalist Emma Borg asked him why.
Cassola said it was "not worth it", given the large number of PN candidates in the district and what he said was a concerted effort to discourage voters from backing third-party candidates.
He said that, had he received 1,500 votes, he would have considered running in the casual election.
Marilena Gauci: I feel very strong
10.22am Marilena Gauci missed out on a seat through PN casual elections but will nevertheless assume a seat in parliament thanks to the gender corrective mechanism.
She spoke to reporters after hearing that news and said she was honoured and feeling very enthusiastic about the new role.
Gender quota seats
10.05am 12 more seats (six for Labour, six for PN) are to be filled through a gender quota mechanism designed to ensure gender balance in parliament.
Labour's six extra MPs will be:
- Cressida Galea (2094 votes)
- Fleur Abela (1,520 votes)
- Francesca Zarb (1,331 votes)
- Yana Borg Debono Grech (1,208 votes)
- Deborah Schembri (847 votes)
- Romilda Zarb (755 votes)
The PN's six extra MPs will be:
- Bernice Bonello (3,185 votes)
- Julie Zahra (2,075 votes)
- Norma Camilleri (1,667 votes)
- Anabelle Cilia (662 votes)
- Marilena Gauci (525 votes)
- Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto (238 votes)
All seven seats filled
9.52am The seven casual elections for PN seats have now been completed. Congratulations to the seven MPs:
- Andrew Agius
- Stanley Zammit
- Graziella Attard Previ
- Ian Vassallo
- George Vital Zammit
- John Baptiste Camilleri
- Graham Bencini
Among those to miss out on a seat is Albert Buttigieg, the former mayor of St Julian's who served as an MP in the previous legislature.
Graham Bencini elected
9.50am Graham Bencini returns to parliament, elected on the 10th district in a seat vacated by Joe Giglio.
Bencini is an accountant who was first elected in 2022 and served as party spokesperson for social security in the previous legislature.
He tells reporters he's pleased he's back in parliament thanks those who backed and helped him.
John Baptiste Camilleri elected
9.45am John Baptiste Camilleri is in; he's been elected on the third district, filling a seat vacated by Stephen Spiteri.
Camilleri - an aircraft engineer by profession - previously served as minority leader of the Marsascala local council. It's third time lucky for him, having failed to make it to parliament in 2017 and 2022 runs.
Camilleri says he will be the first-ever MP who is born, raised and lives in Marsascala.
George Vital Zammit elected
9.39am George Vital Zammit has been elected on the 12th district, filling a seat vacated somewhat controversially by party leader Alex Borg.
Zammit is a public policy academic who also has experience working within the cabinet office. He played a leading role in drafting the PN's electoral manifesto.
George Vital Zammit speaking to reporters. Photo: Chris Sant FournierIan Vassallo elected
9.34am Ian Vassallo, known as 'Hagi', returns to parliament as a 7th district MP, filling a seat vacated by Adrian Delia.
A podiatrist by profession, Vassallo served as party spokesperson for primary care in the previous legislature.
He is extremely emotional and can barely speak.
Ian Vassallo speaking to reporters. Photo: Jacob BorgGraziella Attard Previ elected
9.25am A tenth district seat vacated by Mark Anthony Sammut will be assumed by Graziella Attard Previ, who is now elected.
Attard Previ was first elected in 2022 and served as the PN's spokesperson for equality and civil liberties. She previously served as Sliema mayor.
Attard Previ thanks everyone who trusted her and says she's feeling very pleased.
Stanley Zammit elected
9.18am Stanley Zammit will return to parliament; he's been elected in a casual election on the fifth district, filling a seat vacated by Conrad Borg Manche.
Zammit is a mechanical engineer who lives in Birżebbuġa: he was also elected in 2022 and served as the PN's spokesperson for planning and lands in the last legislature.
Zammit thanks his family, team, party leader and party.
He says there are many, many planning issues to tackle. But he admits the planning portfolio "isn't a sexy one".
Stanley Zammit speaking to reporters. Photo: Jacob BorgAndrew Agius elected
9.12am We have the first winner: Andrew Agius will enter parliament as a seventh district MP.
A vet by profession, Agius is the son of former PN parliamentary secretary Francis Agius.
Agius says he's so excited his legs are shaking.
"I'm extremely proud to be the first vet in Malta's parliament," he says.
Andrew Agius speaks to reporters. Photo: Jacob BorgCasual election running order
9.09am We now know the order in which today’s casual elections will be held. The running order is determined by ballot. The first election will be for the 7th district seat vacated by Rebekah Borg. The last will be the 10th district seat vacated by Joe Giglio. Here’s the running order in full:
- 7th district (Rebekah Borg)
- 5th district (Borg Manche)
- 10th district (Mark Anthony Sammut)
- 7th district (Adrian Delia)
- 12th district (Alex Borg)
- 3rd district (Stephen Spiteri)
- 10th district (Joe Giglio)
People make their way in
8.58am People with a direct interest in the casual elections are gradually filtering into the Naxxar counting hall.
Among those we've spotted so far are candidates Andrew Agius, David Bonello and George Vital Zammit.
Andrew Agius and David Bonello (left)and George Vital Zammit (right) are among those present. Photos: Emma Brownrigg FenechWho's running?
8.49am Seven seats for 23 candidates. Here's a rundown of who is competing for each available seat.
Third District seat ceded by Stephen Spiteri: Andrew Agius, John Baptist Camilleri, Errol Cutajar, Raymond Gatt, Leone Sciberras
Tenth District seat ceded by Mark Anthony Sammut: Joseph Mary Aquilina, Graziella Attard Previ, Graham Bencini, David Anthony Bonello, Albert Buttigieg, Errol Cutajar, Raymond Gatt, Marija Elena Gauci, Noel Muscat
Fifth District seat ceded by Conrad Borg Manche’: Duncan Borg Myatt, Stefan Caruana, Oliver Cini, Owen Sciberras, Stanley Zammit
Seventh District seat ceded by Adrian Delia: Andrew Agius, Charles Azzopardi, Paul Mazzola, Ian Mario Vassallo
Seventh District seat ceded by Rebekah Borg: Andrew Agius, Charles Azzopardi, Paul Mazzola, Ian Mario Vassallo
Tenth District seat ceded by Joe Giglio: Joseph Mary Aquilina, Graziella Attard Previ, Graham Bencini, David Anthony Bonello, Albert Buttigieg, Errol Cutajar, Raymond Gatt, Marija Elena Gauci, Noel Muscat
Twelfth District seat ceded by Alex Borg: Charles Azzopardi, David Anthony Bonello, Joseph Mark Grech, Jonathan Albert Muscat, Ian Mario Vassallo, George Vital Zammit
Casual what?
8.35am Casual elections are a byproduct of Malta's somewhat unique electoral system.
Candidates in general elections can contest two districts. If they are elected in both, they must give up a seat in one of those two. When they do that, a seat in that district is vacated, triggering a casual election.
Casual elections do not involve any additional voting: instead, electoral officials gather all the no.1 votes obtained by the candidate who gave up their seat in the district, and check them to see how many no. 2, 3, 4 etc preferences the candidates contesting casual elections got.
If you want to read more about the system, our journalist Matthew Bonanno has a handy explainer piece about it.
Welcome
8.30am Good morning and welcome to our live blog for the Nationalist Party casual elections. We will be bringing you the latest updates from the counting hall throughout the morning.
The counting process is expected to begin at around 9am.