PN leader Simon Busuttil said today that the results of the council elections show that the Prime Minister is no longer invincible and support towards Dr Muscat is gradually melting away.

Speaking during a news conference this afternoon at the party’s general headquarters, Dr Busuttil said: “The PN is back in business, we reduced the gap by half."

“The PN increased support in various localities, more than two thirds of localities – a big achievement for the party. There is a particular result in Gozo where the PN has lost votes, whereby there was case where the PL engaged in mudslinging, he said, referring to the Giovanna Debono alleged case.

On the spring hunting referendum, he said the PN did not participate in the campaign unlike Dr Muscat. We left everybody free to vote how they wished. Dr Muscat did his utmost to influence the referendum vote, he continued.

Dr Busuttil said that Dr Muscat lied when he said that he was the underdog in this election. Everyone thought he was unbeatable until today.

He said that the Labour Party had a significant advantage over the PN in these elections, that of 75%, since most localities are Labour strongholds.

He noted that the gap has been accumulating for years – from 2003 onwards – the PN witnessing less support, election after the other. But the PN has changed this situation today, he said.

Dr Busuttil noted that many were surprised to see that the PN did so well, adding that this is a result fo the PN’s work.

We managed to make a difference, as we stated in our slogan. We are on the right path. This 17 per cent difference has been whittled down to just 9 per cent.