The ballot papers for the 10th district were reprinted over the weekend, following the announcement of the death of Nationalist Party candidate Albert Rizzo on Friday, a spokesman for the Electoral Commission confirmed yesterday.

Mr Rizzo, affectionately known as Bertu, died aged 60 after a long illness that did not deter him from entering the political fray.

A well-known auctioneer, Mr Rizzo was also a former Gzira mayor, having contested local elections both as an independent and PN candidate.

He also contested the 2003 general election on the PN ticket and garnered 606 first-count votes. Mr Rizzo was a candidate for the 10th electoral district for this 8 March general election.

Joe Calleja, secretary to the Electoral Commission, told The Malta Independent yesterday that the law does not stipulate whether or not ballot papers should be reprinted in such a situation.

However, he said, the commission had taken a decision and the ballot papers were reissued, Mr Rizzo’s name having been removed from the list of PN candidates.