The Labour Party this evening decided which seats are to be vacated by candidates who were elected on two districts.
But there is a twist as the executive, on the proposal of the Prime Minister, will also be making a co-option, that of Randolph Debattista.
From the decisions taken, two casual elections should be needed for the ninth district, after the PL opted to have both Michael Falzon and Clifton Grima give up their seat there.
This however means that all PL candidates who contested on this district will be elected after one of the two casual elections needed. Rebecca Buttigieg will be the only candidate eligible to replace either Grima or Falzon.
As a result of this, a co-option is necessary for a second PL representative on this district, and Debattista has been chosen.
The PL decisions mean that district 10 has been "sacrificed" by the party, in the sense that no casual election will be held here.
Former Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo would have been the one to make it to Parliament, given that Rebecca Buttigieg (elected from the ninth as explained above) would have been the only one with a chance to challenge him. All other PL contestants on this district were either already elected, or else obtained too few votes to be seen as possibly making it to Parliament via the casual election.
Debattista is the PL’s former CEO who now leads the party’s online news portal. He is also the partner of Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer.
The other decisions taken by secret vote are the following:
Robert Abela to give up fifth district (he was elected on the second too);
Chris Fearne cedes the fourth district (he was elected on the third too)
Clyde Caruana gives up the second district (he was also elected on eighth).
Owen Bonnici cedes the third district (he was elected on the fifth too)
Ian Borg gives up the sixth district (he was elected on seventh too).
Silvio Schembri gives up seventh district (he was elected on sixth too).
Miriam Dalli gives ip the 11th district (she was elected on the fifth too).