“This doesn’t promise well for the council’s work,” a bystander remarked.

Mr Bugeja is the former MLP mayor in the same council. However, he quarrelled with his colleagues and the party and decided to run for these elections as an independent councillor.

Mr Bugeja indicated that he would be protesting during the ceremony, and refused be present in the group photo with the other Marsaxlokk councillors, taken shortly before the ceremony started.

As his colleagues stood up to approach the signing table, Mr Bugeja remained seated and only approached the table when the others were finished. It is not yet clear what Mr Bugeja is protesting against and whether he is actually willing to work with the other councillors.

Shortly before, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg gave a short speech – at the Maritime Museum hall in Vittoriosa – thanking the new councillors for their commitment.

The local council legislation is still largely a voluntary service, he said, which makes the councillors’ commitment all the more significant.

Public office comes with a measure of sacrifice, he said, as well as a number of obligations and responsibilities. Councillors administer public funds and public power he said, stressing that this should never be forgotten.

This should not discourage those that have undertaken this task, but caution must prevail, especially when dealing with finance. “I am one of those who believe that councillors should be given more responsibility,” he said.

Concluding, he encouraged all those present to do their best and wished them a successful future.