Michael Falzon (TMID, 20 December) continues with the PN spin claiming that a theoretical sixth observer seat in the European parliament should go to the PN and not to AD.

Mr Falzon should refrain from smug comments about mathematical correctness when his mathematics and knowledge of Malta’s electoral system leave much to be desired.

He bases his calculation on first count votes when for the purposes of electing the final theoretical sixth seat it is quite clear that final count votes are crucial. The final count of the 2004 European Parliament votes showed the PN share of the vote fall through non-transferred votes or votes transferred to other parties. On the election of the final PN candidate, David Casa at the 17th count, the PN had 93,647 votes as opposed to the 97,688 votes on the first count.

On the other hand AD’s share of the vote increased dramatically, going from nearly 23,000 votes on the first count to 29,013 at the final count. Using the same figures given by Michael Falzon, with a re-calculated quota based on having a theoretical extra sixth seat, the fight for the sixth seat would be between the MLP with 120,081 votes when their final candidate was elected, the PN with 93,647 votes when their final candidate was elected and AD with 29,013 votes at the final count without being eliminated.

This is translated to three seats plus 14,743 votes for the MLP, two seats plus 23,519 votes for the PN and 29,013 votes for AD. It therefore seems mathematically very clear that AD’s Arnold Cassola should be awarded the theoretical sixth seat.

It is truly sad that the PN and Mr Falzon, who once rallied under the cry of electoral justice for Maltese citizens, seem adamant on disenfranchising over nine per cent of the electorate who courageously broke the stale mould of local politics by voting AD last June.

Stephen Cachia

Secretary General

AD-The Green Party