PN stalwarts Jason Azzopardi and Edwin Vassallo have failed to be elected in the PN's casual election, which took place this morning at the Naxxar counting hall.
The PN has elected 7 MPs: Rebekah Cilia, Stanley Zammit, Graham Bencini, Karol Aquilina, Charles Azzopardi, Graziella Attard Previ and Carm Mifsud Bonnici.
Cilia, Zammit, Bencini, Azzopardi, and Attard Previ are all new faces in Parliament.
Jason Azzopardi, Edwin Vassallo, and Karl Gouder were the candidates who served as MPs left out in the cold by the electorate.
In comments to The Malta Independent, Rebekah Cilia – who was elected on the 7th district – said that her being elected is a result which she is immensely satisfied with, particularly as it is the first time that she contested an election, but added that now “the proper work” begins.
Asked what her priorities will be for the upcoming legislature, she said that she has a number of priorities personally but that the biggest one more generally is to offer a stronger opposition and one which can make a difference for Malta to move forward.
Stanley Zammit meanwhile, another new candidate to be elected, told this newsroom that he wants to use his experience within the Birzebugga local council, his ability from his profession, and his understanding from meeting the people on the street to see what they truly need and make himself a representative deserving of the people’s faith.
Asked what his priorities will be, Zammit said that he wants to focus on the environment, on education, and on the increases in cost of living as “that is the fight which people are really fighting every day.”
Graham Bencini, elected on the 10th district, told this newsroom that while he was satisfied personally, he is still part of a team which lost the general election as whole, adding that he would have wanted a better result for the party as a whole.
“My sector is the financial services sector, so I have seen the problems which we have faced over the past years because of our bad reputation as a country. One of my priorities therefore is going to be focusing on improving that reputation,” Bencini told The Malta Independent on his priorities as an MP.
He added that the environment, animal welfare, and the elderly are all close to his heart, but that his work will depend on the responsibility which party leader Bernard Grech bestows upon him.
The casual election was held to fill the seats vacated by candidates who had been elected on two districts in the 26 March general election.
There were 48 nominations to fill vacant seats on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th districts. Two elections each were held on the 7th and 9th districts.
The process started at 9am and lasted just over half an hour.
Live updates:
Rebekah Cilia has been elected on the 7th district, taking the seat vacated by former PN Leader Adrian Delia.
On the fifth district, Stanley Zammit has been elected instead of current PN Leader Bernard Grech.
On the 10th district, Graham Bencini has been elected instead of Mark Anthony Sammut.
Karol Aquilina has been elected on the 9th district, taking Robert Arrigo's seat.
On the 7th district, Charles Azzopardi has been elected instead of Ryan Callus. This means that PN veteran Edwin Vassallo has not been elected to Parliament.
On the 9th district, Graziella Attard Previ has taken Joe Giglio's seat. This means that Jason Azzopardi has not been elected.
On the 3rd district, Carm Mifsud Bonnici has been elected instead of Stephen Spiteri.
The following nominations had been received:
Third Electoral District (seat ceded by Stephen Spiteri)
Camilleri John Baptist, Cutajar Errol, Mifsud Bonnici Carmelo, Muscat Mary and Sciberras Leone
Fifth Electoral District (seat ceded by Bernard Grech)
Caruana Stefan, Farrugia Francine, Sciberras Owen and Zammit Stanley
Seventh Electoral District (seat ceded by Ryan Callus)
Azzopardi Charles, Cilia Rebekah-Ann, Mifsud Anthony (Anton), Psaila Zammit Alessia, Vassallo Edwin and Xuereb Josephine
Seventh Electoral District (seat ceded by Adrian Delia)
Azzopardi Charles, Cilia Rebekah-Ann, Mifsud Anthony (Anton), Psaila Zammit Alessia, Vassallo Edwin and Xuereb Josephine
Ninth Electoral District (seat ceded by Robert Arrigo)
Aquilina Karol, Attard Previ Graziella, Azzopordi Jason, Bencini Graham, Borg Bonello Eve, Buttigieg Albert, Gouder Karl, Muscat Noel, Portelli Bonnici Emma and Selvaggi Charles
Ninth Electoral District (seat ceded by Joseph Giglio)
Aquilina Karol, Attard Previ Graziella, Azzopordi Jason, Bencini Graham, Borg Bonello Eve, Buttigieg Albert, Gouder Karl, Muscat Noel, Portelli Bonnici Emma and Selvaggi Charles
Tenth Electoral District (seat ceded by Mark Anthony Sammut)
Aquilina Karol, Attard Previ Graziella, Bencini Graham, Borg Bonello Eve, Buttigieg Albert, Gouder Karl and Portelli Bonnici Emma