Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday denied there was a shift in votes between the two main parties when he gave his initial reactions on the results of local council elections held on Saturday.

Insisting that a different scenario exists for each locality and that citizens may view local and national situations from a different perspective, Dr Gonzi noted that both parties had registered quite a substantial decline in the number of votes they obtained, when comparing this year’s results to those of local elections held in the same localities three years ago.

While admitting that the PN had lost double the number of votes lost by the Labour Party, the Prime Minister pointed out that the turnout at local council elections three years ago was much higher, even though MEP elections having been held simultaneously had a big say in the higher turnout registered then.

Analysing the results, one immediately notes that the low turnout particularly affected the Nationalist Party, especially since the most significant losses were registered in PN strongholds like Swieqi, Attard and Gharghur, he said, adding that year after year the Labour Party tends to be in a better position to mobilise its supporters to vote in local council elections.

Moreover, trends have shown that the party in government is always less popular in local council elections, noted Dr Gonzi.

He added that the Nationalist Party has always maintained its strength following losses in local council elections, unlike the opposing party in government, which was weakened drastically following the 1998 local council elections and ended up losing a surprise election a few months later.

“What I find very strange is that the MLP had reached a saturation point in certain localities like Safi and Kercem, where the number of votes has remained unchanged over the past three years,” he said.

Although the Labour Party is euphoric about the fact that it has registered another win in the local council elections, the party also needs to question why it lost the number of votes it did, particularly in localities like Birzebbugia, Hamrun, Paola and Qormi, among others.

Dr Gonzi accused the MLP of not declaring its position on an endless number of issues in order not to rock the boat and assume it is pleasing everyone by doing so.

Asked by The Malta Independent whether he believed the hunting and trapping issue has affected the outcome of these local council elections, Dr Gonzi said that although it does not appear that this issue created any radical change, it is difficult to give a categorical answer and a much more detailed analysis is required in this regard.

He pointed out that he noted a significant difference in the electoral campaigns of the two major parties in the run-up to this year’s local elections.

“Labour’s campaign in a number of localities like Munxar, Gzira and Mosta was particularly aggressive and personalised. Coming from the MLP, this is nothing new, but I don’t believe in doing politics in that manner.

The Nationalist Party does not need to adopt the same attitude and it will continue to offer space for people to make their own wise choice,” said Dr Gonzi, going on to say that the Nationalist Party will win the next general election, which he said will be held “some time next year” – without specifying during which part of the year he intended to call the election.

“I will call an election at a time that would be in the best interest of the country, not in the best interest of the Nationalist Party,” said Dr Gonzi, insisting that the government will continue to be focused and will move on with its political agenda with determination to maintain the successes that the country has managed to achieve.

The Prime Minister said citizens distinguish between local and national circumstances. In fact, he interpreted this weekend’s results as being a clear message from people that while they might not be pleased with certain aspects affecting them on a daily basis, like the condition of the road they live in for example, their perspective of national issues may be very different.

“The Nationalist Party has always analysed election results seriously, trying to address issues that may arise from the analysis, but we believe that citizens will judge us based on our actions in the best interest of the country. I do not interpret losses in local council elections as a message that people do not necessarily agree with the government’s policies,” he stated.

The government’s policies are based on measures identified following a long process of consultation, said Dr Gonzi, referring to the important issues that will be on the government’s agenda this year and in the beginning of the next.

Without any doubt, the changeover from the lira to the euro will be one of the main issues, as will be the migration from St Luke’s Hospital to Mater Dei and the SmartCity project.

“I am proud to say that since I became prime minister and finance minister, the country has strengthened its economy and the government is in a better position to implement policies that will ultimately improve the quality of life of citizens,” said Dr Gonzi.