The Nationalist Party elected four new MPs to the House of Representatives in casual elections held today. The fifth candidate elected, Godfrey Farrugia, is no newcomer to politics, but last time round he had been elected on the Labour Party ticket. This time, he contested the election with the Partit Demokratiku under the Nationalist Party banner.
He joins his partner Marlene Farrugia in Parliament. It is the first time in history that two candidates elected with a particular party in one election were elected with a different political party in the following election.
Farrugia was elected in a casual election on the seventh district, ceded by Nationalist Party deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami.
Ivan Bartolo will be a new face for the Nationalist Party in Parliament, as he was elected in a casual election on the 11th district, ceded by leader Simon Busuttil.
Another new face in Parliament for the PN will be David Stellini, who won a tight race against Kevin Cutajar on the 13th district ceded by Marthese Portelli.
Karol Aquilina became a third new MP for the PN, edging veteran George Pullicino in a close battle on the 10th district ceded by Robert Arrigo.
The last candidate to be elected for the PN was Maria Deguara, wife of former Health Minister Louis Deguara, who was elected on the 11th district.
She brings the total number of women elected to Parliament to 10, a record.
Bartolo started with a solid lead with 1,122 votes after the first count, followed by Alex Perici Calascione on 893. Bartolo increased his lead in subsequent counts until be surpassed the quota on 1,993.
In comments after the election, the Mosta mayor said he will remain close to the people.
Ivan Bartolo from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
(Videos and photos Baskal Mallia)
After the first count on the seventh district, it was noticed that 500 votes obtained by Beppe Fenech Adami were unaccounted for. They were later found among the lot obtained by another PN elected candidate, Jean Pierre Debono, in what seems to have been a mistake.
When the counting of the distributed votes was carried out it was realised that 500 votes were missing.
Godfrey Farrugia from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
Once the "missing" votes were added to the lot, Godfrey Farrugia (former Labour whip, who ran with the PN-PD coalition) went into the lead on 1,039 votes after the first count, followed by Sam Abela on 652. Farrugia obtained more than 400 from the 500 votes that had been missing.
In later counts, Farrugia increased the lead until he was declared the winner with over 1,900 votes. Antoine Borg, an MP in the past legislature, was eliminated.
In comments to the media, Farrugia said he always worked in the interests of Malta, and he will be working for Malta in the years to come. He said he faced a huge challenge to be elected, having been whip of the Labour Party only seven weeks ago. He said his campaign was only 11 days long, and thanked all those who contributed to his victory. Politics need to become more human, he said. It means a lot that the PD has managed to take two seats off the traditional political parties.
David Stellini from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
In comments to the media, Stellini said he will be close to the people by going on house visits all throughout his five-year term.
Karol Aquilina from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
In comments to the media, Aquilina thanked the people who voted for him, saying that his election to parliament will mean that he will relinquish his position as Siggiewi mayor. He said he is surprised that he was elected from this district, and not his home district, but said that this is the qay that the Maltese election system works.
Louis Deguara on wife Maria from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
Maria Deguara was not at the counting hall today as she is abroad. Her husband Louis, on her behalf, said that Maria will be giving her best in Parliament and is the ideal candidate to pass on the people's message in the House.
The casual elections to fill the five seats vacated by PN candidates who were elected on two districts in the 3 June General Election are being held today. The process, at the Naxxar Counting Complex, started at 8am.
The total number of nominations presented was 34.
Seventh Electoral District (seat ceded by Beppe Fenech Adami)
Abela Sam, Borg Antoine Joseph, Farrugia Godfrey, Micallef Peter, Vassallo David, Vassallo Ian Mario
Tenth Electoral District (seat ceded by Robert Arrigo)
Abela Wadge Alan, Aquilina Karol, Attard Previ Graziella, Borg Roselyn, Buttigieg Albert, Buttigieg Anthony, Hewitt Wayne, Pullicino George, Refalo Nicholas, Vella Brincat Evelyn
Eleventh Electoral District (seat ceded by Simon Busuttil)
Bartolo Ivan, Deguara Maria Fatima, Galea Graziella, Mangion Alexander Louis, Perici Calascione Alexander
Eleventh Electoral District (seat ceded by David Agius)
Bartolo Ivan, Deguara Maria Fatima, Galea Graziella, Mangion Alexander Louis, Perici Calascione Alexander
Thirteenth Electoral District (seat ceded by Marthese Portelli)
Cutajar Kevin, Ellis Joseph, Galea Vincent, Mercieca Ryan, Portelli Maria, Stellini David, Zammit Jason