This electoral district represents a nostalgic return for the PL, since for the very first time since the days of Dom Mintoff’s premiership, the party leader will be contesting this Labour stronghold. As a matter of fact the last time that a Labour leader was on the list of candidates in this district was in 1981, when Dom Mintoff garnered 10,469 votes. This will inevitably represent a benchmark for Dr Muscat who might fancy himself doing better than the man he sought to rehabilitate within the party.

While it may be highly academical, it is also worth pointing out that both parties will be fielding their respective leaders since Lawrence Gonzi has been a permanent fixture on this district since 1987, with 1992 being the only exception.  However due to the highly polarised nature of this district any further comparisons between the respective leaders would be unreliable.

With the exception of Dr Muscat, the outcome of the race will be wide open especially due to the fact that former Labour deputy leader Michael Falzon, who got 3,047 first count votes in 2008, will not be contesting this district – meaning that his votes will be up for grabs.

In this context, candidates getting second preference behind Dr Muscat will have the edge on the rest.

Among the new candidates Yana Mintoff Bland is the front runner as she can bank on the sympathy votes of her late father.

Five MPs will be contesting this district. Among them Stefan Buontempo, Helena Dalli and Joe Mizzi were elected from this district in 2008.  Chris Agius made it to parliament in the casual election when former deputy leader Michael Falzon vacated his seat since he was also elected from the tenth district, while Carmelo Abela was elected from the third district.

The Labour list also includes Rita Law who was an MP between 1998 and 2003, Deo Debattista, Adrian Meli and Victor Sultana who had been a Labour candidate way back in 1987.

 

2008

2013

 

 

Abela Carmelo (544)

Abela Carmelo

Agius Christopher (1,531)

Agius Christopher

 

BLAND MINTOFF YANA

Buontempo Stefan (2,008E)

Buontempo Stefan

Dalli Helena (2,332E)

Dalli, Helena

 

DEBATTISTA JUDE TADDEO

Falzon Michael (3,047E)**

 

Law Rita (536)

Law, Rita

 

MELI ADRIAN GEORGE

MIFSUD DUNCAN (550)

 

Mizzi Joseph (2,661E)

Mizzi, Joseph

 

MUSCAT JOSEPH

VELLA BONNICI JOSEPH (1,638)

 

 

Sultana Victor*

 

 

*Contested 1987 election on different districts

**Contesting another district

Names in caps (left) denote candidates not contesting in 2013

Names in caps (right) denote new candidates

Names in bold and italics denote MPs

(Number) indicates first count votes obtained in 2008