The PN is presenting six candidates, including Victoria mayor Samuel Azzopardi and Kevin Cutajar, who are contesting for the first time. On the other hand Manuel Tabone, Robert Tabone and Marthese Portelli are no longer on the PN’s list. The latter is still a party candidate but will be contesting the ninth district. Former Qala mayor Paul Buttigieg is the other PN candidate.

With no shadow of doubt Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono is the candidate to beat having been the most voted candidate since 1987 when she contested for the first time, following the footsteps of her late father Coronato Attard.  Chris Said who in recent years has rapidly risen through the party ranks is the other Nationalist candidate touted to be elected from this district.

While the election of these two candidates might be considered as a foregone conclusion, the real challenge for the PN might be to keep its third seat, which it has won uninterruptedly since 1962. In 2008 Frederick Azzopardi was the last candidate to be elected with 1,568 first-count votes, which was well below the quota of 3,958 votes. In other words he is the one who would probably not make the cut, either if there is a significant swing in the PL’s favour, or if one of the other candidates springs a surprise.

In 2008 the PN got 55 percent of the vote, while the PL got 43%. While a six percent swing might be a bridge too far for Labour, the significant gains made since then by Labour have not gone unnoticed and it could well be that the outcome of this district is reflected on a national level.

2008

2013

Azzopardi Frederick (1,568E)

Azzopardi Frederick

AZZOPARDI SAMUEL

Buttigieg Paul (734)

Buttigieg Paul

CUTAJAR KEVIN

Debono Giovanna(5,633E)

Debono Giovanna

Portelli Marthese* (1,103)

Said Christopher (2,573E)

Said Christopher

TABONE MANUEL (458)

TABONE ROBERT (1,078)

*Contesting on another district in 2013

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