New MP among seven elected

A new face in parliament will join six MPs returning to the House following casual elections held yesterday to fill seats vacated by MPs elected from two districts.

The elected MPs are Joseph Abela, Joe Debono Grech and Joseph Cuschieri for the Labour Party and Helen D'Amato, newly elected Joseph Falzon, Michael Frendo and Josef Bonnici for the Nationalist Party.

Mr Falzon, a 30-year-old architect, is now the youngest MP on the government side. He served as a councillor in Msida between 2000 and 2003.

Mr Abela was elected from the third district to fill the seat vacated by Labour Party deputy leader George Vella, Mr Debono Grech to fill that vacated by Labour leader Alfred Sant on the eighth and Mr Cuschieri that vacated by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo on the 10th.

Ms D'Amato was elected from the fifth district to fill the seat vacated by Education Minister Louis Galea, Mr Falzon from the ninth to fill the seat vacated by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, Dr Frendo was elected to fill the seat vacated by Foreign Minister Joe Borg on the 10th and Prof. Bonnici to fill that vacated by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami on the 11th.

Just before counting started at 9 a.m., the Electoral Commission drew lots to establish whether to first count the ninth or the 10th districts, as it had announced it would do in an issue of the Government Gazette.

It did not count the two districts simultaneously because three candidates were contesting both. The 10th was started first.

At around 10.45 a.m. some candidates, including George Hyzler and Melvyn Mifsud, lodged an objection with the commission arguing that counting should have started on both districts at the same time.

At around 12.15 p.m. the commission that it was standing by its original decision.

Sources said that some of the candidates had been contemplating lodging a Constitutional application to contest this point but finally decided to stand by the commission's decision.

Following his election from the 10th district, the commission withdrew Dr Frendo's name from those contesting the ninth. Had counting on both districts been held at the same time, Dr Frendo would have stood a possibility of being elected from both districts. Had this happened a co-option would have been required to fill the seat he would have had to vacate.

First to be elected was Mr Debono Grech just half an hour after counting had started. He thanked the people who expressed their confidence in him and appealed to Labourites to put their heads together and work with whoever was elected leader so that the MLP would win the next election.

Mr Cuschieri expressed his satisfaction at his election and said that his work in the past five years was now bearing results. He thanked his party's executive for the confidence shown in him and all the people who helped him and promised to continue giving his contribution in the interest of the country and his constituents.

On his election Prof. Bonnici heaved a sigh of relief and said he had been biting his nails for the past three weeks. He expressed his satisfaction at his election and said that at last the waters he had been in these past days had cleared.

Mrs D'Amato said she had been given the people's support for the third time round and looked forward to the challenges and opportunities which were now facing the country. There was a lot of work to be done but this had never put her off.

Mr Abela was returning to parliament for a second time following an absence in the past legislature. He said that during the time he was not an MP, he remained involved in party affairs, working mainly with the disabled and within the scholastic council in Zejtun.

He said that in spite of the party's defeat in the general election, the MLP was still very relevant and should continue insisting on social justice. The party's contribution to the country had to be extensive for it to become an alternative government in a short time.

His personal ambition, he said, was to be the voice of those who did not have one.

Dr Frendo said it was his pleasure to again be able to give a service in parliament not just to his party but also to the country.

Mr Falzon expressed his satisfaction at the support shown by his constituents, his family and the party and said his election was a result of the work he had done on his district. His election, he said, showed that the people appreciated and wanted a young element in politics.

Yesterday's elections complete parliament's formation which like the previous one is made up of 59 men and six women.

District 3. Seat vacated by MLP deputy leader George Vella

Quota 1,841 Joseph Abela 1,527E (3rd count) Chris Agius 295 Jesmar Baldacchino 248 Owen Bonnici 677 Joseph Cassar Delia 250 Alfred Portelli 660

District 5. Seat vacated by Education Minister Louis Galea

Quota 1,894 Helen D'Amato 1,650E (2nd count) Franco Debono 952 John Schembri 172 Anna Schiavone 571 Nadine Sciberras 221 Helga Zahra 166

District 8. Seat vacated by Labour Leader Alfred Sant

Quota 1,809 John Buttigieg 181 Joe Debono Grech 2,740E (1st count) Myriam Spiteri Debono 674

District 9. Seat vacated by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech

Quota 1738 Joseph Falzon 1007E (6th count) Michael Frendo - Franco Galea 120 Carmel Grima 338 Ian Micallef 474 Melvyn Mifsud 449 Albert Rizzo 463 John Vella 556

District 10. Seat vacated by Foreign Minister Joe Borg

Quota 1796 Michael Frendo 1,371E (3rd count) Franco Galea 152 George Mario Hyzler 856 Melvyn Mifsud 358 Michael Refalo 821

District 10. Seat vacated by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo

Quota 1,495 Joseph Cuschieri 1,758E (1st count) Martin Debono 373 Robert Micallef 152 Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi 639

District 11. Seat vacated by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami

Quota 1872 Josef Bonnici 2,248E (1st count) Philip Borg 244 Joseph Cassar 522 Nazju Cassar 227 Rennie Deguara 414