People known to be close to Labour leader Alfred Sant won decisively in the elections held late on Friday for posts on the national executive committee and for a post in the party’s leadership.

In the most signal election, that of educational secretary of the party, Dr Wenzu Mintoff won with 463 votes against Alex Farrugia’s 319.

Dr Mintoff is widely perceived to be near Dr Sant’s leadership and PN media reports that a letter highly critical of Dr Sant that Dr Mintoff wrote many years back would be sent to party delegates, does not seem to have materialised or affected voters.

What may have discouraged voters from voting for Mr Farrugia, on the other hand, could also have been his rather poor record of attendance at the party’s executive committee meetings, apart from the wide perception that he is closer to the dissidents within the party.

But even stronger proof is that what is being called “the Alfred Sant group” has won hands down, as can be seen from the results for posts on the national executive.

People considered close to Dr Sant, such as Claudette Baldacchino (579 this time, 512 last year), Guza Cassar (623, 602), Michael Cohen (510, 368), Charlon Gouder (574, 392 last year and not elected), and Salvu Seychell (553, 505) were not only elected but returned with increased votes, while people perceived to be rather dissident, such as Glenn Bedingfield (426 this time and only a runner-up since Catherine Abela who got 323 was elected due to the party’s positive discrimination clause, 438), Gino Cauchi (451, 434), and Alfred Grixti (442, 460) while mainly increasing their votes, lost the support on the committee of Nathalie Attard who did not contest.

Nationalist website Maltarightnow was quick to point out however that nonetheless, Dr Sant can only be said to have the support of 60 per cent of his party.