The Nationalist Party reversed the localities of Siggiewi and Mosta on the third day of counting which, added to three other councils which flipped in previous days, gave the PN so much to shout about in this year's local council elections.

But the Labour Party still won more localities and ended with an overall majority of roughly 20,000 votes - the number that Labour delegates were singing at the end of the counting process. It was later confirmed, by Prime Minister Robert Abela, that the gap was 20,252.

This meant that Labour has lost more than half of its 2019 advantage, when it had registered a 47,000 win.

Labour has also lost nearly 6% of the popular support - in 2019 it had won by 58 per cent, now it has dropped to 52%.

The Electoral Commission gave the official result at 134,767 votes for the PL and 114,512 for the PN.

It meant that both sides ended up celebrating at the counting hall, with both sets of delegates shouting slogans, separated solely by a thin line of police officers.

The two party anthems were sung at intervals, but taunts did not go amiss, as the PL delegates were shouting that "you will never enter Castille", with the PN delegates replying with "korruzzjoni" (corruption).

The PN won 24 councils, the Labour Party won 39 councils, with another five ending in deadlock.

The third day of counting started with a bang, as the Nationalist Party took control of Siggiewi away from Labour.

It became a better day later as Mosta was also taken by the PN.

The PN has obtained roughly 900 more votes than Labour in Siggiewi, and increased their tally by nearly 10%.

Siggiewi was very much in the news during the campaign, which was at the centre of attention when it was revealed that there had been an attempt to change the addresses of 99 families to a block which was still uninhabitable.

The courts reversed the exercise, calling for an investigation.

It is apparent that this stunt worked against Labour, as the majority of voters chose the PN in this election.

There were scenes of jubilation by PN agents, who started singing the PN anthem as soon as it became clear that they had taken the majority in this locality.

PN agents also took out photos of Housing Minister Roderick Galdes, who is being "credited" for the political swing. "Prosit Ministru", they told him.

The new mayor of Siggiewi is Julian Borg, while that of Mosta is Joseph Gatt.

Mosta was also a highly-contested locality, one which has switched allegiances since local councils were introduced in 1992. There was great controversy over the last five years as works at the centre of the town took long to complete and the council was under attack for old ficus trees that were butchered in the process.

The PN ended up winning this locality by a whopping 1,500 votes.

The Nationalist Party has also retained some localities where it already had a majority. Swieqi was won by the PN, with Noel Muscat remaining as mayor.

The PN has won Naxxar and Attard too. Stefan Cordina was elected mayor of Attard.

Gharghur has also remained in the PN's control.

Labour has retained a string of localities where it traditionally was supported by the majority of residents.

Kirkop has been won, as expected, by Labour, with Matthew Agius Zammit elected as mayor (photo below)

Neither was there a surprise in Senglea, which was won 4-1 by Labour, as Clive Pulis was elected mayor. 

Safi has been retained by Labour, with Johann Mula as mayor, and Labour also held on to Mtarfa, Xghajra, Vittoriosa and Santa Lucija.

In Vittoriosa, John Boxall remains mayor, while Neil Attard is Xghajra's mayor and Charmaine St John is mayor of Santa Lucija. The mayor of Mtarfa is Dale Hayman.

Hamrun is also going Labour's way, with the same mayor set to be re-elected. 

Luqa is also still held by Labour, but there is a possibility of a 4-3 set-up, rather than a 5-2 situation. This is still to be determined, and depends on the inheritance. John Schembri remains mayor.

Qormi has also remained in Labour's control.

The Gzira council remains in Labour's control, with Neville Chetcuti elected mayor to replace Conrad Borg Manche, who this time contested as an independent candidate. Borg Manche was elected, taking away a seat from the PN. It's clear that he "stole" more votes from Nationalist supporters than Labour ones.

The first indications, as always, came from Gozo, where the Nationalist Party held on to a majority in Munxar. There is a chance that the PN obtained an extra seat, for a 4-1 set-up, with Damian Christ Spiteri remaining mayor, having obtained more or less half the votes. In 2019, the PN had won this locality by just 35 votes, this time the victory is on a wider scale.

The PN has also won Zebbug (Gozo), with Baskal Saliba elected mayor.

In the village of San Lawrenz, the Nationalist Party obtained around 70 per cent of the vote, with Noel Formosa remaining mayor.

Kercem has also remained in PN control, with Mario Azzopardi elected mayor.

Labour's chances in Gozo are in Qala, with Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri taking an active part in the sorting process, giving his take on some votes which could be considered dubious.

Yet, even here, the PN has made inroads into Labour's lead, although Labour eventually called it as their own. Initial indications are that Qala's majoririty dropped from 70 per cent to just 51 per cent, with Paul Buttigieg remaining mayor.

The situation in Floriana ended with a 2-2-1 scenario.