Gender balance in PL casual elections as four women, four men take seats
Political comeback for Franco Mercieca while election sees new MPs in Mariah Meli and Clint Azzopardi Flores
Four women and four men were elected to parliament on Friday as Labour filled eight seats in the casual elections.
The seats were vacated by Labour MPs who were elected in two districts. Nationalist Party candidates will go through the same process on Tuesday.
The eight successful candidates were:
- Ramona Attard
- Naomi Cachia
- Rebecca Buttigieg
- Clint Azzopardi Flores
- Mariah Meli
- Alex Muscat
- Franco Mercieca
- Andy Ellul
The election is a return to parliament for five of the candidates, including former parliamentary secretaries Buttigieg, Ellul and Muscat.
Meli, who became Labour's first ever Għarghur mayor last year, will take her seat in parliament for the first time, along with economist Azzopardi Flores, who unsuccessfully stood in the 2024 MEP elections.
The election marks a political comeback for former parliamentary secretary Franco Mercieca, who resigned in 2014 amid controversy over whether he could continue to practice as an eye surgeon while holding government office.
He was not at the Naxxar counting hall for the results of the casual elections on Friday morning as he was carrying out an operation.
Two sitting MPs, Ray Abela and Romilda Zarb both lost their seats, although Zarb has a chance of being elected through the gender corrective mechanism.
In a Facebook post shortly after the election results were announced, Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela congratulated the candidates.
"I thank all the candidates, on behalf of the Labour Party, who campaigned in the general election so that we achieved a strong and historic mandate," he said.
Labour was returned to government after winning the general election, securing an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in government with 51.8% of the vote, compared to 44.7% for the Nationalist Party.
Live blog as it happened
Robert Abela congratulates MPs
11.02 am Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela has taken to Facebook to congratulate his new MPs and to thank all those who campaigned.
Andy Ellul reacts to being returned to parliament
10.40am Former parliamentary secretary Andy Ellul said he was proud to be elected as an MP on behalf of Labour.
Prime Minister Robert Abela has already said he won't be adding to his cabinet, meaning Ellul, who had the housing and industrial junior ministry in the last legislature, will not be returning to an executive position in the near future.
Ellul insisted he was not disappointed.
"I have my own profession as a lawyer and the fact I was elected on behalf of the PL is the bigges honour that I could have," he says.
On whether he would like to be government whip, a role he also held in the last legislature, Ellul said that decision can only be taken by the prime minister.
Ray Abela reflects after losing his seat
10.37am After losing his seat, ex-MP Ray Abela paid tribute to his former constituents in district three, saying he “worked hard in the district but will not have the pleasure of representing them this time around”.
Asked about whether his performance warranted his Facebook campaign expenses, which were among the highest in the party, Abela said he faced stiff competition in his districts.
“I am pleased with my performance, winning 1,000 votes in a district dominated by ministers,” he said. Abela was tight lipped about his own political future, saying he would be reflecting on the matter in the coming days.
“I remain loyal to the party and prime minister and will do all I can to provide my input,” he said.
Romilda Zarb misses out
10.28am Romilda Zarb managed to get elected via casual election in 2022. This time around she failed on both her district 11 and 12 bids.
In comments to Times of Malta Zarb said it stands to be seen whether she will make it to parliament via the gender corrective mechanism.
If she does make it, Zarb, a former Mosta mayor said she will continue focusing her parliamentary work on disability issues.
"In the last four years I had the privilege of working hard," she said, adding that she was satisfied that many of the issues and ideas she believes in are listed in the PL manifesto.
Alex Muscat brushes aside cabinet questions
10.25am Former parliamentary secretary Alex Muscat brushed aside questions over whether he would be aspiring for a cabinet post, saying he was now focused on working for the benefit of his constituents in Mosta and Attard.
When asked about the two other candidates who were competing against him, Francesca Zarb and Romilda Zarb, Muscat said: “I understand they both stand a good chance of making it through the gender corrective mechanism, so I wish them well”.
Why Franco Merceica isn't here
10.15am Franco Merceica will be returning to parliament after a hiatus but he isn't here to react to the news. The eye specialist is carrying out an operation instead.
He writes on Facebook: "I have just been informed that you have once again entrusted me with your confidence to represent you in the Maltese Parliament. I can only reciprocate your respect and affection with even greater work.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Mariah Meli wants culture of 'just politics'
10.12am In her first post-election comments, Mariah Meli thanks those who entrusted her with their vote. She said she has long been involved in political campaigns, but this was her first campaign as a candidate. She said keeping in close contact with people and empathising with them will help create a culture of just politics.
Clint Azzopardi Flores pledges focus on environment
10am Clint Azzopardi Flores thanks the Labour Party, his colleagues, and all those who helped him get elected. He told the press he is ready to work not just in the interests of his constituents but also for all Maltese and Gozitan people.
The economist says he will focus on environmental, social and governance issues. “I will always follow the party line, but people know these issues are at heart for me.”
He also thanks his husband Ray for being so patient with him throughout the campaign.
Live blog
Third district winner
9.58am Andy Ellul has been elected. He will occupy Chris Fearne’s seat.
Twelfth district winner
9.53am Franco Mercieca has been elected. He will occupy Jonathan Attard’s seat.
Eleventh district winner
9.49am Alex Muscat has been elected. He will occupy Miriam Dalli’s seat.
Ninth district winner
9.46am Mariah Meli has been elected. She will occupy Michael Falzon’s seat.
Rebecca Buttigieg: 'Gender quota is working'
9.43am Rebecca Buttigieg said she is honoured to have another chance to serve in the country’s highest political institution.
She also said she was honoured to have served as a member of Cabinet, namely as the parliamentary secretary for equality and reform. Prime Minister Robert Abela has already said that he is unlikely to appoint more people to Cabinet, making it unlikely that Buttigieg will return to that role.
So far, three women have been elected through casual elections. There has been a big step up compared to 2022 in the number of women elected in the first round of votes or through casual elections.
Asked about the gender quota mechanism and whether it could be considered a success given this year’s results, Buttigieg said the mechanism is working, especially since a number of women who were elected through the mechanism in 2022 have been re-elected without it.
Second district winner
9.39am Clint Azzopardi Flores has been elected. He will occupy Robert Abela’s seat.
Cachia 'ready to serve in any role'
9.33am Naomi Cachia, visibly emotional, said she is very happy with the result and worked very hard for it.
Only two candidates were contesting the seat in the seventh district – her and Samantha Pace Gasan.
She said Pace Gasan is a competent person who will surely contribute greatly to politics, no matter what she chooses to do next.
Asked about the possibility of keeping the role of Whip in the next legislature, she said she is open to serving in whatever role is granted to her.
Ninth district winner
9.30am Rebecca Buttigieg has been elected. She will occupy Clifton Grima’s seat.
Attard ‘thankful’, Muscat still hopeful
9.27am In her first comments to the press, Attard thanked the Labour Party and those who entrusted her with their vote. She said she’s ready to roll up her sleeves and start working on the party’s manifesto for the coming legislature.
We also heard from Alex Muscat, who was contesting the casual election for the same seat. He is still optimistic about his electoral chances, as he is also contesting the eleventh district seat, but acknowledged that he expected Attard to win in the eighth district.
Seventh district winner
9.22am Naomi Cachia has been elected. She will occupy Ian Borg’s seat.
Eighth district winner
9.16am Ramona Attard has been elected. She will occupy Clyde Caruana’s seat.
Maltese elections in the digital age
9.13am A couple of years ago, the Electoral Commission introduced a digital sorting system to help sift through the ballots more quickly. This is the digital engine in action, as we await the results of the casual election on the eighth district.
The Electoral Commission's digital sorting engine. Photo: Emma Brownrigg Fenech.The running order
9.07am Here are some more details on how the process will play out. Elections are held one by one, and the running order is determined by ballot. Believe it or not, many things are determined by ballot in an election.
Some candidates have put their names forward in two districts. Unlike in the general election, they cannot get elected in two districts. Once they are elected in a particular district, they are automatically considered out of the running in the other.
The running order is as follows:
- Eighth district – Clyde Caruana
- Seventh district – Ian Borg
- Ninth district – Clifton Grima
- Second district – Robert Abela
- Ninth district – Michael Falzon
- Eleventh district – Miriam Dalli
- Twelfth district – Jonathan Attard
- Third district – Chris Fearne
Louis Gatt, who heads Labour's electoral office, drawing ballots from a bowl to determine the running order. Photo: Emma Brownrigg Fenech.Who’s who at the counting hall
8.56am Candidates are starting to make their way to the counting hall. They’re mingling with each other, but it’s clear that they are feeling the nerves. After all, only eight of them will be leaving the hall as elected MPs.
Some of the candidates we have spotted so far are: Clint Azzopardi Flores, who is vying for a seat on either the second or ninth district; David Caruana, contesting the ninth district; Romilda Zarb for the 11th district; and Deborah Schembri on District 12.
David Caruana (left) and Clint Azzopardi Flores (centre) gathered around one of the counting stations. Photo: Emma Brownrigg Fenech.A quieter affair
8.51am Journalists and MP hopefuls are starting to gather in the counting hall, which is a much quieter place today than it was on May 30.
Unlike election day, when over 150 candidates were contesting across 13 districts, these elections are being contested by 31 candidates in seven districts.
The counting hall is practically empty compared to May 30. Photo: Emma Brownrigg FenechSo, what is a casual election?
8.30am Malta’s electoral process is far from straightforward, so here’s a quick overview of the casual election mechanism.
In Malta, a candidate can contest the election in up to two electoral districts. However, if they get elected in both districts, they must give up a seat in either district, leaving parliament one seat short.
To fill in that vacated seat, the Electoral Commission holds casual elections. It goes through the votes cast for that particular MP and uses the second, third, and fourth preferences of those voters to determine who is the next most popular candidate.
If you want to read more about the system, our journalist Matthew Bonanno has a handy explainer piece about it.
Good morning
8.25am Good morning and welcome to our live blog for the Labour Party casual elections. We will be using this space to bring you the latest updates from the counting hall.
The counting process is expected to take place at around 9am.