The new Labour Party parliamentary group looks radically different to the one elected in 2013, with 11 new faces among the PL ranks and some very familiar faces missing.
Seven new MPs had been elected in the 3 June general election and another four new faces were added to the mix in yesterday’s casual elections, held after seven PL MPs who were elected on two districts ceded one of their seats.
The new MPs elected yesterday were OPM blogger Glenn Bedingfield, Qormi Mayor Rosianne Cutajar, Clayton Bartolo and former PL president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. They join Aaron Farrugia, Silvio Grixti, Byron Camilleri, Julia Farrugia Portelli, Robert Abela, Alex Muscat, Clint Camilleri, who were elected for the first time on 3 June.
Despite the casual election, the PL parliamentary group composition remained the same with 33 men and 4 women.
Several veterans who served in the last legislature chose not to contest this time round. These were: Charles Buhagiar, Charles Mangion, Joe Debono Grech, George Vella, Joseph Farrugia, Joseph Sammut and Louis Grech. The former Deputy Prime Minister has been retained by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat as a consultant.
Four former MPs failed to get elected: Stefan Buontempo, Luciano Busuttil, Franco Mercieca and Deborah Schembri.
Other 2013 MPs who were elected in 2013 but are missing from parliament are Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who became President in 2014, Karmenu Vella, who became EU Commissioner and Leo Brincat, who was appointed to the EU Court of Auditors.
Also missing are Marlene Farrugia and Godfrey Farrugia. Marlene Farrugia was elected on the Forza Nazzjonali ticket and Godfrey Farrugia stands a chance to be elected in today’s casual election.
It is also relevant to note that two of the newly-elected MPs currently serve as persons of trust at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Yesterday’s causal election was possible thanks to the seats vacated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (5), now replaced by Zrinzo Azzopardi, Evarist Bartolo (12), now replaced by Clayton Bartolo, Helena Dalli (2), replaced by Glenn Bedingfield, Edward Scicluna (8), replaced by Edward Zammit Lewis, Chris Fearne (4) replaced by Etienne Grech, Michael Falzon (9) who gave for Manuel Mallia and Silvio Schembri (6) who was replaced by Rosianne Cutajar.