Sampling of votes taken by the political parties have given victory to Labour Party victory, although it will take longer for official results to be made known.
Labour agents and candidates began banging on the perspex at 11.15am, an hour after the sorting of votes started.
The margin between the two parties is as yet unknown, but it is evident that once again the people have given Labour the opportunity to govern the country. The margin should be around 35,000, which is very similar to the 36,000 win obtained by Labour four years ago.
Unofficial results show a 54.9% for the PL, 43.8% for the PN-PB coalition and 1% for Alternattiva Demokratika.
Michael Falzon, an election expert and who served as parliamentary secretary in the last legislature, said the victory is somewhere between 9-10 percent.
Among the candidates lifted shoulder high as soon as the election result was made known was Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, at the centre of a controversy for acquiring a company in Panama.
In comments to PBS, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the people have chosen to move forward, and not stop midway through.
“The people have chosen the positive campaign of the Labour Party as against the negativity and bitterness of the Opposition,” Dr Muscat said.
Our work now is to look ahead and, after a divisive campaign, we must work to unite the country again.
“I extend the hand of friendship to whoever wants to work with us. What we have achieved so far is nothing when compared to what we will achieve from now onwards.”
In a tweet, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said he had called the Prime Minister to accept defeat. Dr Muscat thanked Dr Busuttil and wished him well.
The election was called a year earlier than scheduled in the wake of allegations made that the Prime Minister’s wife is the owner of a company in Panama.
The Opposition concentrated on corruption issues during the campaign with Labour promising continuity.
S&D MEP Miriam Dalli wrote on social media that the unofficial figures point towards a PL victory of 54.9% with the PN being awarded 43.8% of the vote.
In a tweet, OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, who is facing two magisterial inquiries, said he is looking forward to the next five years, a clear indication that he is likely to retain his post at Castille.
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#maltaelection: Labour won, but so did democracy. Victors and losers reflect, in our love for #Malta and respect towards adversaries
— Michael Briguglio (@BriguglioMike)
June 4, 2017