Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has ordered the St Paul’s Bay mayor to be elected according to a ruling given by the law courts, a government statement said.

The minister, acting within powers given to him by the Local Councils Act, has ordered that the post vacated by Graziella Galea be filled up by the candidate who obtained the second highest number of votes from the same political party. In this case, Galea will be replaced by a Nationalist councillor as mayor.

In a statement, the government expressed its preoccupation that the current impasse at the council is having a negative effect on its employees, who have not been paid their salaries. The council’s functions have also stalled since Galea’s resignation, which came in the wake of a vote of no confidence that was being prepared against her.

The government urged the council to hold a meeting in the shortest time possible to elect a mayor.

Anne Fenech is expected to be named mayor.

The Nationalist Party welcomed the government's decision.