Konrad Mizzi, as expected, received an overwhelming endorsement as the new Labour Party deputy leader, bagging 672 or 96.6% of the 696 valid votes cast.

He was the only contestant for the job, and in spite of his being embroiled in a controversy following the revelation that he holds a shell company in Panama and a trust in New Zealand, Labour delegates gave him the thumbs-up in their great majority.

739 delegates in total were meant to vote, thus meaning that 95.26% of those eligible cast their votes.  There were 3 abstensions and 5 invalid votes. This means there were 696 valid votes. 

In his first comments to the media after his election, he said that his wife Sai Mizzi will not continue her role in China after her current contract expires in August. Her appointment - at 13,000 euros per month - has been targeted by the Opposition as one of the main scandals of the Labour government.

“We discussed my possible nomination as a family and we decided that I should throw my name in the hat”.

Dr Mizzi thanked Dr Toni Abela for his work and said he is now Deputy Leader designate, until Dr Toni Abela is sent to the European Court of Auditors.

He said he will will focus on priorities, such as working with candidates and local councillors to ensure they deliver on their promises and all those who want to work within the party to keep the party alive. The second will be to engage with society, including environmental NGOs. Another priority, will be strengthening the party's media.

His election comes as the minister is embroiled in a controversy following the revelation that he holds a shell company in Panama and a trust in New Zealand.

The secret vote opened at 9am in both Malta and Gozo, and closed at 8.30pm. To be confirmed deputy leader, Dr Mizzi had to obtain 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast.

It was an easy target for the well-liked minister, seen by Labour supporters as one of the main contributors to the PL’s victory in the last election. Minister Mizzi is also known to be a close ally of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who voted in the election at 11.30am.

In comments to journalists earlier, the Prime Minister continued to defend the minister on the Panama company controversy, saying that he believes what the minister is saying and sees nothing wrong.

Dr Mizzi was the first and only Labour MP to submit his name when applications opened and he will be the first MP to hold the position. Labour delegates met in early February to amend the party’s statute to allow MPs to contest the post, just one week after PM and leader Muscat announced his proposals for change during a Sunday morning political activity. The amendment went through with 392 votes in favour and one against.

Many viewed the sudden change of statute together with the only nomination of Dr Mizzi as confirmation that he had been lined up to secure the post vacated by Toni Abela. A day before the changes to the statute were announced, Dr Abela was nominated for the European Court of Auditors. The veteran lawyer was seemingly reluctant to move out, saying that his nomination “is what it is,” in comments to The Malta Independent.

Dr Mizzi’s nomination was proposed by Labour executive Ġuża Cassar and seconded by Justice Minister Owen Bonnici.

Photos and Video Jonathan Borg