PN candidate David Casa has been elected to the EP in the 25th count following a transfer of votes from fellow party candidate Ray Bugeja. Mr Casa obtained more than 9,000 votes from the transfer.
This will be his third term serving at the EP.
In the meantime, officials in the Labour Party are quietly optimistic that Labour will clinch the fourth seat, as the majority of Ray Bugeja’s inherited votes have swung David Casa’s way.
The two remaining PN candidates, Therese Cachia Comodini and Francis Zammit Dimech have remained some distance behind Labour's contender for the fourth seat, Gozitan Clint Camilleri.
PL MP Franco Mercieca tweeted: "4-2 with Clint clinching the fourth seat is on the cards.....highly probable....fingers crossed."
PL MEP Joseph Cuschieri is now a determining factor as to whether Labour or the PN will clinch the sixth seat in Brussels.
Mr Cuschieri is next in line for elimination after PN candidate Ray Bugeja.
Should PL candidate Clint Camilleri inherit around 7,000 of Cuschieri's votes, the sixth seat will swing Labour's way.
Mr Camilleri inherited an impressive 6,945 votes from Perit Bianco, giving him 22,740 votes in total. Joseph Cuschieri inherited 994 votes, taking his total up to 16,223.
Previous counts
PL candidate Miriam Dalli has been elected on the 23rd count after inheriting 1,575 votes from fellow party candidate Lino Bianco.
Incumbent David Casa is on target for the second seat, and the PN's race for the elusive third seat will now take place between Francis Zammit Dimech and Therese Cachia Comodini.
Ms Dalli was given a hero's welcome as the entered the Naxxar counting hall. Shouting of "Viva l-Labour" echoed around the hall.
Miriam Dalli had still been 70 votes short of reaching the quota after Arnold Cassola's votes were transferred in Count 21.
This round proved crucial for the PN, which inherited a total of 2,840 votes from Mr Cassola, thus widening the gap. Labour obtained 2,050 votes. The rest were non-transferrable. The candidate who fared best from Arnold Cassola's votes was PL's Miriam Dalli, who got 789 votes.
Earlier, Charlon Gouder's votes went mostly to Miriam Dalli who is was then 900 votes away from obtaining the quota.
Deborah Schembri's transferred votes as expected went mostly to Labour candidates, with Miram Dalli now edging closer to being elected with an additional 2,394 votes that brought her total then to 31,250.
Marlene Mizzi obtained nearly 3,000 votes for her tally to rise to 21,377.
Votes from Imperium Europa candidate Norman Lowell have been counted and transferred, with the majority heading towards PL candidates.
PL candidates received 1,929 votes while PN candidates received 1,031 votes.
Official Results will be uploaded as received from the Electoral Commission?
Registered voters
344,356
Votes cast
257,588
Invalid votes
5737
Quota
35,979
Valid votes
251,851
Ajkla
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Bonnici Nazareno
0
0
0
0
0
0
Alleanza Bidla
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Calleja Anthony
0
0
0
0
0
0
Grech Mintoff Ivan
0
0
0
0
0
0
Alleanza Liberali
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Sammut Jean-Pierre
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Alternattiva Demokratika
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Cacopardo Carmel
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cassola Arnold
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Imperium Europa
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Baldacchino Arlette
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Galea Antoine
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Lowell Norman
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Partit Laburista
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Bianco Lino
11281
11298
0
0
0
0
0
Camilleri Clint
15789
15795
22740
23202
23225
23225
23273
Cordina Peter
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cuschieri Joseph
15211
15229
16223
16530
16556
16556
16613
Dalli Miriam
35909
35958
37533E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35797E
Farrugia Borg Mario
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Gouder Charlon
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Grixti Ivan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mizzi Marlene
23951
23976
25345
26046
26096
26097
26242
Sant Alfred
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
Schembri Deborah
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Vella Fleur
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Partit Nazzjonalista
COUNT
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Bugeja Raymond
10893
12687
12732
12738
0
0
0
Casa David
23966
27122
27146
27153
36371E
35979E
35979E
Comodini Cachia Therese
11455
13624
13646
13647
15502
15885
29481
Cutajar Kevin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ellul Helga
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mallia Stefano
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Metsola Roberta
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
35979E
Plumpton Kevin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Shaw Jonathan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Vella Norman
9916
0
0
0
0
0
0
Zammit Dimech Francis
11848
14186
14209
14212
15402
15440
0
Non Transferable Votes
9674
10018
10319
10386
10762
10762
TOTAL
251851
251851
251851
251851
251851
251851
Candidates Elected
1
Sant Alfred (Partit Laburista)
2
Metsola Roberta (Partit Nazzjonalista)
3
Miriam Dalli (Partit Laburista)
4
5
6
?
Election expert Hermann Schiavione told The Malta Independent that as things stand now there is a possibility that up to four candidates will be elected without a quota. But it is still early to say - at 1pm Tuesday - which party will be getting the sixth seat.
Of a similar opinion was Labour Party agent Frank St John, who said that it is still too early to make predictions given the volatility of the situation.
Metsola Elected
Roberta Metsola has passed the quota and is elected as an MEP. The PN have gained their first MEP in these elections. The first MEP to be elected was Alfred Sant at the first count.
MEP Roberta Metsola said she was very proud to be the first PN candidate elected by the people of Malta and Gozo.
She was originally elected as an MEP in 2013 through a bi-election, where she replaced Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil.
Today is the third day of counting here in Naxxar, however with most candidates left having over 8,000 votes, things are expected to pick up. It’s generally been a quiet night here at the hall and the 16th count is currently under way. Thus far, 4 PL and 5 PN candidates have been dropped, however the 6th seat is still heavily contested.
There was a delay in the counting process earlier on because Roberta Metsola's surplus votes were erroneously mixed up with her quota pile of votes and they have to be counted again.
4 Seats left
PN candidate Stefano Mallia has also been dropped, meaning that 7 PL and 5 PN candidates are still in the race for the final 4 seats.
Pleased for first PN confirmation - FZD
PN MEP candidate Francis Zammit Dimech was very pleased for the confirmation of MEP Roberta Metsola.
"She is doing a brilliant job," he said.
As a possible candidate, Dr Zammit Dimech eagerly awaits the results for the other 4 MEP seats.
Disappointed with Party result – David Casa
PN MEP Candidate David Casa expressed his disappointment with the overall party result in these elections.
“We had a good showing from our candidates however,” he told The Malta Independent.
Discussing his predictions for the final 4 seats, the MEP candidate was unsure of what could happen. “I’m at 22,000 votes and although nobody can reach me it’s still too early to say”. The candidate congratulated MEP Roberta Metsola on her election earlier today.
Delay on Metsola's surplus
A PN Party agent told The Malta Independent that there is a delay on the results from Roberta Metsola's transfer of votes as there was an error in the Commission's calculation of the surplus votes.
Party delegates on the way back for a coffee were chanting party slogans.
The electoral process over the past few days has moved along very slowly.