Ex-Prime Minister Alfred Sant has been elected to the European Parliament with 48,739 first count votes, with PN MEP candidate Roberta Metsola close to the quota with 32,360 votes.
Dr Sant had led the Labour Party - as its leader - in a crusade against European Union membership, offering the option of partnership which had been then resoundly rejected by the electorate. Now, 10 years later and after being replaced by Joseph Muscat as Labour leader, Dr Sant obtained the largest number of preferences and was the first and only candidate to be elected in the first count.
The election quota stands at 35,979 votes. As such, the former Prime Minister exceeded this number by 12,760 votes.
The first count concluded earlier tonight and the votes received by all MEP hopefuls are in.
MEP Roberta Metsola is the Nationalist Party’s leading candidate, but while her re-election is practically assured, she was not elected on the first count.
PN leader Simon Busuttil may be disappointed with his party’s results, but he may enjoy one consolation: the 68,782 first-count votes he had received in the 2009 European Parliament election remain a record, by a wide margin.
The second count results are expected to be released later today.
First count results:
Quota: 35,979
Alleanza Liberali
Sammut Jean-Pierre 202
Total 202
Alleanza Bidla
Calleja Anthony 239
Grech Mintoff Ivan 776
Total 1,015
Ajkla
Bonnici Nazzareno 1,208
Total 1,208
AD
Cacopardo Carmel 1,527
Cassola Arnold 5,891
Total 7,418
Imperium Europa
Baldacchino Arlette 452
Galea Antoine 104
Lowell Norman 6,205
Total 6,761
PL
Bianco Lino 7,268
Camilleri Clint 13,484
Cordina Peter 868
Cuschieri Joseph 10,461
Dalli Miriam 23,479
Farrugia Borg Mario 1,297
Gouder Charlon 6,719
Grixti Ivan 1,595
Mizzi Marlene 14,057
Sant Alfred 48,739 E
Schembri Deborah 5,983
Vella Fleur 512
Total 134,462
PN
Bugeja Raymond 7,846
Casa David 19,582
Comodini Cachia Therese 7,859
Cutajar Kevin 5,415
Ellul Helga 2,976
Mallia Stefano 5,663
Metsola Roberta 32,360
Plumpton Kevin 1,238
Shaw Jonathan 2,087
Vella Norman 7,099
Zammit Dimech Francis 8,660
Total 100,785
Front-runners
The PL camp are expected to grab a minimum of 2 out of the 5 seats still up for grabs in the MEP elections. MEP hopeful Miriam Dalli has a strong lead over the rest of the pack with 23,479 votes and is expected to take the 2nd PL seat. PL MEP hopefuls Marlene Mizzi (14,057 votes), Clint Camilleri (13,484 votes) and Joseph Cuschieri (10,461 votes) battling it out for the 3rd and possibly 4th MEP seat.
In the PN camp, MEP hopeful Roberta Metsola is expected to be elected later today, currently standing with 32,360 votes. Candidate David Casa has a strong lead for the 2nd PN seat, with 19,582 votes. The 6th and final seat is still contested between the PL and PN and could go either way. PN MEP candidates Francis Zammit Dimech (8,660 votes), Therese Comodini Cachia (7,859 votes) and Raymond Bugeja (7,846 votes) are all possible contenders.
The final seats will come down to votes inherited.
Must wait for the inheritance of votes – PN MEP Candidate Francis Zammit Dimech
PN MEP candidate Francis Zammit Dimech awaits the inheritance of votes in order to see whether the PN will grab the elusive 3rd seat.
Speaking with The Malta Independent, he said that he is currently 3rd in-line for a seat amongst the PN candidates.
AD, IE inheritance of votes to play big part in PN 3rd seat – Beppe Fenech Adami
Whether the PN grab the 3rd seat all depends on the inheritance of votes, PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami told The Malta Independent.
“I believe that votes inherited from AD and Imperium Europa will play a major role in the outcome of the 6th seat,” he said.
A long wait ...
The process of distributing Alfred Sant's 13,000 excess votes is taking its time, and counting agents and party officials from all sides have taken the opportunity to take a litte break.
The photo above shows PL counting agents and AD Chairman Arnold Cassola patiently waiting for developments.