Former ministers Edward Zammit Lewis and Manwel Mallia made it to Parliament via the back door in casual elections on the eighth and ninth districts. Another candidate who retained his seat is Etienne Grech, who was elected in the fourth district after a tightly-fought battle involving recounts.

They were joined by newcomers Glenn Bedingfield on the second district, Rosianne Cutajar (below) on the sixth, Clayton Bartolo on the 12th and Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi on the fifth. 

A recount also took place on the 12th district as Clayton Bartolo and Deborah Schembri obtained an almost equal number of votes. At the end, it was Bartolo who made it, eliminating the former parliamentary secretary.

(Video and photos Baskal Mallia)

The former Tourism Minister lost his seat on the Cabinet after he failed to be elected on the eighth and ninth district, but will now continue to serve as an MP after making it in the casual election on the eighth district, vacated by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna.

In comments to the media, Zammit Lewis said he is happy to have served the government in the best way possible and is looking forward to serve his constituents in parliament. "I served as minister with integrity and am willing to do the same as an MP," he said.

 

The quota on the district was 1,929, with Zammit Lewis surpassing it handsomely with 2,477 votes on the first count. Rosianne Cutajar obtained 578 votes, Ian Castaldi Paris 503 and Rachel Tua 300.

Glenn Bedingfield, who served in the OPM in the last legislature and was harshly criticised for using his time paid for from taxes to attack anyone who opposed the government, was elected on the second district, vacated by Helena Dalli.

In comments to the media, he said that he has served the party for more than 20 years and he has always understood that the people are central for his politics.

Bedingfield obtained 2,217 votes, followed by Stefan Buontempo on 1,230 votes. The quota was 2,031.

In comments to the media, Rosianne Cutajar pledged all her loyalty to the Prime Minister and said that she will continue to work hard as she did when she occupied the post of mayor in Qormi. She said that she is pleased to be a welcome addition to the number of women MPs in the House of Representatives.

Rosianne Cutajar ended up with 2,884 votes, with the quota at 1,924.

Mallia thanked the people who voted for him, saying that he will continue to serve in Parliament to represent the voters of the ninth and tenth districts. Asked what he thinks were the reasons why in 2013 he was elected on two districts and this time he needed a casual election to make it to Parliament, Mallia said this is not the first time it happened. "I was not the first and will not be the last," he said.

Newly-elected Clayton Bartolo thanked all those who supported him. Visibly emotional, Bartolo said that in spite of not making it to Parliament, Deborah Schembri is a valid politician. He said that the government will work hard and he is convinced that the country can look forward to the best of times.

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi made it on the fifth district, given up by the Prime Minister.

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.

In comments after his election, Zrinzo Azzopardi expressed his gratitude to the people who elected him and said this is another chapter that starts in his political career.

In comments to the media, Etienne Grech said that the change to the localities forming the fourth district put him at a disadvantage but now that he has been elected he will give all his energy.

Etienne Grech from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.

The following is the list of candidates who contested the casual elections.

Second District (seat ceded by Helena Dalli)

Bedingfield Glenn, Buontempo Stefano Carlo, Causon Mark

Fourth District (seat ceded by Chris Fearne)

Buontempo Stefano Carlo, Cilia Joe, Ellul Andy, Grech Etienne, Grima Dominic, Sammut Rita Connie

Fifth District (seat ceded by Joseph Muscat)

Bedingfield Glenn, Busuttil Luciano, Cachia Roderick, Calleja Mario, Cutajar Joseph, Farrugia Joseph, Micallef Edric, Muscat Sebastian, Sammut Rita Connie, Stivala Carlo, Zrinzo Azzopardi Stefan

Sixth District (seat ceded by Silvio Schembri)

Cutajar Rosianne, Gulia Gavin

Eighth District (seat ceded by Edward Scicluna)

Castaldi Paris Ian, Cutajar Rosianne, Tua Rachel, Zammit Lewis Edward

Ninth District (seat ceded by Michael Falzon)

Borg Manché Conrad, Mallia Manuel, Zammit Alamango Nikita, Zammit Lewis Edward

Twelfth District (seat ceded by Evarist Bartolo)

Attard Joseph Matthew, Bartolo Clayton, Grima Alfred, Schembri Deborah

The casual elections to fill five seats vacate by PN MPs who were elected on two districts will be held on Wednesday.

 

PL statement

The PL praised the Labour Party MPs elected through the casual election in a statement.

 

The PL also thanked all the other candidates who threw their names into the hat for the elections. "We looks forward to start our work in Parliament in order to start implementing our electoral manifesto promises.”