Helena Dalli has been eliminated from the race for the post of Labour Party deputy leader, meaning that Health Minister Chris Fearne and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna will go head-to-head in Saturday's run off.
Friday night's results have put Fearne in the lead with a total of 296 votes, with Scicluna trailing just behind him with 249 of delegates’ votes. Dalli received 199 votes.
The three candidates, Equality Minister Helena Dalli, Health Minister Chris Fearne and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna had needed 50 per cent plus one of the 745 delegate’s votes in order to be elected.
None of them hit the mark.
All three candidates gave statements to the press after the official results came out:
A visibly emotional Minister Helena Dalli said that “it was a nice experience campaigning this whole month, learning about the delegates and learning their needs. Now we will continue to deliver on the electoral manifesto.”
Scicluna said that the “result shows how closely fought, even though the ranking is what it is, there is not such a big difference. We have three strong candidates, three ministers and the result is what it is.
Fearne thanked the delegates, adding that he is “pleased with the result”. The Health Minister managed the highest number of votes, although it was not enough to reach the quota.
He said that the process “strengthens the party, adding that “It was a tight race but it was enjoyable.
“We will have a party that comes out even stronger at the end of this, whatever tomorrow’s result will be.”
Muscat and Deputy Leader for Party Affairs Chris Cardona have been confirmed through the vote of confirmation that also took place tonight. They secured 99% and 88% of the vote respectively.
Earlier:
Voting for the Labour Party Deputy Leadership for Parliamentary Affairs has closed and party members are now counting up the votes. The three strong candidates, Equality Minister Helena Dalli, Health Minister Chris Fearne and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna will need 50 per cent plus one of the 756 delegate’s votes in order to be elected.
Just eleven delegates failed to vote, mostly because of being overseas, meaning that a total of 745 votes have been cast. Should neither candidate fail to reach the quota, then the candidate with the lowest votes will be eliminated and delegates will be asked to vote again tomorrow.
Apart from being asked to vote for Deputy Leader, delegates will be casting a vote of confirmation for Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Deputy Leader for party affairs Chris Cardona.
Those counting up the votes will first focus on the vote of confirmation and then move on to the deputy leadership for parliamentary affairs count.
All three candidates have been campaigning heavily for the Deputy Leader position, appearing on many PL media spots with messages directed towards the party delegates, who are eligible to vote.
During a debate last Sunday, Minister Fearne was the only leader to skirt the question of whether he is eyeing the top position of PL Leader after Muscat steps down from his role.
In the first interview following Labour's electoral win, Muscat announced that he would not be contesting the next general election and that it would be his last legislature has party leader and Prime Minister.
Photos and video by Michael Camilleri