Both the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party were happy with the outcome of the local council elections.

The overall results show that the PL obtained a majority of votes, quite similar in proportion to the ones it had obtained a week earlier in the European Parliament election. A 54.7 per cent result for Labour showed that the party has kept the “tradition” to winning mid-term local council elections.

For its part, the Nationalist Party was happy because it increased the number of preferences when compared to three years ago, up to 44.2 per cent. More than this, it regained the majority in Pieta, San Gwann and Mtarfa, and managed to retain Birkirkara.

Results in local councils are considered to be a “test” for the political parties as they prepare for the “examination” – the general election. History has shown us that tests are an altogether different story from the examination.

During the course of the past legislature, the Labour Party emerged victorious in all local council elections, beating the PN quite heavily in some circumstances too. This even led the PL to label Lawrence Gonzi, who took over the party leadership in 2004, as a serial loser, only for Dr Gonzi to bounce back by winning the election last year.

The PL needs to be careful this time. It would do well to be cautious. It knows that the national election will be held in four years’ time, and so many things can happen in between.

It was understandable that Joseph Muscat was euphoric on the day when the PL won the EP election. It was his first election, a poll he won handsomely, and he seemed carried away by the enthusiasm of the crowd before him. The next day, when he addressed a press conference, he was more composed and down to earth, realising that although the PL should be happy with the results achieved, the road towards winning the general election is still long.

The Nationalist Party’s morale lifted up a notch with the local council results. Yet, the sound beating suffered in the EP election ought to push them towards changing direction. Such a result should not be taken lightly because the people’s message is loud and clear.

PN exponents have been very critical in the way they have analysed the result. They have blamed the party strategy in the election campaign, but they have also complained that the government had more or less abandoned the party in the weeks leading up to the election.

This newspaper has reported about the stormy parliamentary group meeting that took place in the days following the PN defeat at the EP election, and it is clear that party leader Lawrence Gonzi has a tough time ahead to bring about more harmony within his ranks. The cracks that have emerged need to be mended quickly if the PN is to face the coming challenges as one united team.

Dr Gonzi must also see that the promises that the party made before the election are implemented – so far, we have seen very little of the proposals that were made before March 2008. Although a government is judged on five years, it is about time that some of the ideas put forward see the light of day. Among them is the reform at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which the Prime Minister has taken under his direct responsibility.

It is normal for a government to be unpopular in the first half of its term in office. It must also be admitted that the international situation has not helped to make things easier. Yet, the government knows that it should have done better in its first year in office. The good thing – for the PN – is that there is still time to recover.