The bottom line: Labour achieved an exceptional result, the Nationalist Party achieved a terrible result.
The electorate kept them practically in same place as in 2013, i.e. a historic gap between them. Labour won 170,976 votes (55.06%). The Nationalist Party's 'Forza Nazzjonali' won 135,696 votes (43.68%). In 2013 Labour obtained 54.83%, whilst the Nationalist Party obtained 43.34%. The difference is so big that further comments on the two parties are futile at this stage.
The Democratic Party ('orange' candidates within PN list) is now Malta's third party and the first one to be in parliament since 1962, after Marlene Farrugia was elected in the 10th district through the Forza Nazzjonali pre-electoral coalition. Her votes and those of Godfrey Farrugia stand out within PD, with 1016, 821, 494, 1080 first preference votes in the respective 10th, 5th, 6th and 7th districts. In all the party won 4,826 first preference votes, or 1.53%.
Alternattiva Demokratika received less than 1% for the 2nd time in its history (0.83% : 2003 was the other instance, when it received 0.7%), In 2013 AD won 5,506 first preference votes. This time around the amount decreased to 2,564.
The Patriots won 1,117 first preference votes (0.36%).
This is the basic starting point of any analysis. Numbers don't lie. Context cannot be ignored. And our context is Maltese society.
I will be giving my interpretation of the 2017 election in my Times of Malta opinion piece next Monday, and in further writings in due course.
In the meantime, taking a step back to reflect is imperative. This requires taking responsibility for one's actions, humility and a healthy dose of introspection and self-critique by all players and analysts.
Official electoral result updates can be found here.
Times of Malta live election blog can be found here.
My initial reaction to Times of Malta on electoral result can be found here.
