Nationalist Party candidate Conrad Borg Manché told this newsroom that he is "very happy" with his personal results as well as the "great inroads" made by the PN this general election.

Speaking to The Malta Independent about his and the PN's progress, after most votes were counted, Borg Manché wished to thank every single person who put their faith in him on election day.

"Thank you to everyone who put their faith in me. For me, the fact that people have put their faith in me is a great deal, and I must thank each and every one of them," he said.

While giving these comments, results had shown that Borg Manché led the field in number 1 votes attained on the 10th district. Simultaneously, he was the second-most popular PN candidate on District 5, after Toni Bezzina.

On the PN's overall performance this early election, Borg Manché said that "for the party, it is a good result when one considers the voter gap."

In his view, he said it is important that the gap between the two major parties is not very large "so that the government can be put in check."

He added that "in the six months Alex Borg has been [PN] leader, he has made great inroads."

Borg Manché was a surprise candidate for the Nationalist Party; his candidature with the PN was only announced on the final day that candidates could submit their nominations to contest this general election, on Monday, 11 May.

Borg Manché was Gzira mayor between 2015 and 2024, though he resigned from the Labour Party in 2023 following political disagreements.