The Labour Party registered an expected win in last Saturday’s local council elections, with a 52.6 per cent share of the vote but the Nationalist Party, on the basis of a higher turnout than three years ago, bounced back, regaining control of two localities which last time had gone to Labour – Santa Venera and Mqabba.

The Nationalist Party saw its share rise to 45.94 per cent from 44.05 per cent three years ago, with the rest of the votes going to AD or independent candidates.

However, Labour held on to their majority in Mellieha and Zebbug – two crucial localities considered as “touch and go” that could have gone either way in these elections.

Adding further woes to their already precarious state, Alternattiva saw its share of the vote fall.

The Nationalist Party gained votes in all localities except Nadur and Valletta, and won new seats in Kirkop, Xewkija, Mqabba, Sta Venera, Zejtun and Marsa.

The MLP gained a new seat in Ghajnsielem, making this the first time it will hold two seats on that five-seat council.

However, the fact that, in 2005, the Nationalist Party took the controversial decision to withdraw its candidates from Zejtun and Marsa, leading to the consequent cancellation of elections in those localities, will inevitably complicate the interpretation of the final results of this year’s elections.

Several localities will have new mayors. In Nadur, former deputy mayor Miriam Portelli clinched the top spot by just one vote over Charles Said, while in St Paul’s Bay, the mayoral seat has been taken over by new candidate Graziella Galea.

Ms Galea’s story is even more interesting. Last Sunday, former Communications Minister Censu Galea found himself out of parliament and without his ministerial job. But yesterday he had something to smile about in the Naxxar counting hall – his daughter Graziella, an architect by profession, was elected as the new mayor of St Paul’s Bay, garnering more than 1,300 votes.

However, their styles couldn’t be more different. Graziella is very shy and still incredulous at the news that she is the new mayor.

In Sta Venera, the new mayor is Elizabeth Vella.

In the election for Dingli council, Ian Borg, the youngest mayor in Malta and Gozo, was confirmed with more than half the votes cast.

Nationalist candidate Francis Cauchi was re-elected mayor of Ghajnsielem for the sixth time, having won most votes in the PN-controlled council. He has been mayor ever since the local council was established in 1994.

In St Julian’s, Nationalist Peter Bonello was re-elected mayor in an election in which just 10 votes separated him from fellow PN councillor Karl Gouder.