11 new faces in reshaped PL Parliamentary group after casual elections
● Bedingfield, Rosianne Cutajar elected to Parliament
The new Labour Party parliamentary group looks radically different to the one elected in 2013, with 11 new faces among the PL ranks and some very familiar faces missing.
Seven new MPs had been elected in the 3 June general election and another four new faces were added to the mix in yesterday’s casual elections, held after seven PL MPs who were elected on two districts ceded one of their seats.
The new MPs elected yesterday were OPM blogger Glenn Bedingfield, Qormi Mayor Rosianne Cutajar, Clayton Bartolo and former PL president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. They join Aaron Farrugia, Silvio Grixti, Byron Camilleri, Julia Farrugia Portelli, Robert Abela, Alex Muscat, Clint Camilleri, who were elected for the first time on 3 June.
Despite the casual election, the PL parliamentary group composition remained the same with 33 men and 4 women.
Several veterans who served in the last legislature chose not to contest this time round. These were: Charles Buhagiar, Charles Mangion, Joe Debono Grech, George Vella, Joseph Farrugia, Joseph Sammut and Louis Grech.
The former Deputy Prime Minister has been retained by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat as a consultant.
Four former MPs failed to get elected: Stefan Buontempo, Luciano Busuttil, Franco Mercieca and Deborah Schembri.
Other 2013 MPs who were elected in 2013 but are missing from parliament are Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who became President in 2014, Karmenu Vella, who became EU Commissioner and Leo Brincat, who was appointed to the EU Court of Auditors.
Also missing are Marlene Farrugia and Godfrey Farrugia. Marlene Farrugia was elected on the Forza Nazzjonali ticket and Godfrey Farrugia stands a chance to be elected in today’s casual election.
It is also relevant to note that two of the newly-elected MPs currently serve as persons of trust at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Yesterday’s causal election was possible thanks to the seats vacated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (5), now replaced by Zrinzo Azzopardi, Evarist Bartolo (12), now replaced by Clayton Bartolo, Helena Dalli (2), replaced by Glenn Bedingfield, Edward Scicluna (8), replaced by Edward Zammit Lewis, Chris Fearne (4) replaced by Etienne Grech, Michael Falzon (9) who gave for Manuel Mallia and Silvio Schembri (6) who was replaced by Rosianne Cutajar.
The counting centre in Naxxar was yesterday brought back to vibrant life as aspiring MPs and their constituents flocked its halls for the casual election.
Former minister Edward Zammit Lewis was the first to elected in the casual election held in the eighth district. In comments to the media, the former tourism minister said he was happy to have served the government in the best way possible and is looking forward to serve his constituents in parliament. “I served as minister with integrity and am willing to do the same as an MP,” he said. The quota on the district was 1,929, with Zammit Lewis surpassing it handsomely with 2,477 votes on the first count.
Manwel Mallia, another former minister also made it to Parliament via the back door. He said he would continue to serve in Parliament to represent the voters of the ninth and tenth districts. Asked what he thinks were the reasons why in 2013 he was elected on two districts and this time he needed a casual election to make it to Parliament, Mallia said this is not the first time it happened. “I was not the first and will not be the last,” he said.
Glenn Bedingfield, who served in the OPM in the last legislature was elected on the second district, vacated by Helena Dalli. In comments to the media, he said that he has served the party for more than 20 years and he has always understood that the people are central for his politics. Bedingfield obtained 2,217 votes, followed by Stefan Buontempo on 1,230 votes. The quota was 2,031.
Rosianne Cutajar managed to get elected through the sixth district where a race between her and Gavin Gulia took place. The latter, conceded the defeat and left the hall while Cutajar cheered in celebration. At 28-years of age, Cutajar is officially the youngest MP in this legislature.
Newcomer Clayton Bartolo managed to outdo former Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri from the election race in the 12th district. Schembri, however, did not go down without a fight. With only 15 votes separating the two, she asked for a recount, only to have 30-yearold Bartolo confirmed as new MP. Visibly emotional, Bartolo said that in spite of not making it to Parliament, Deborah Schembri is a valid politician. He said that the government will work hard and he is convinced that the country can look forward to the best of times.
The tensest event of the day took place behind the District Four perspex. The battle in this district was between Etienne Grech, Stefan Buontempo (who was nowhere to be seen at the counting hall) and newcomer Andy Ellul. In the fourth count, Etienne Grech established a slight lead with 1,410 votes, but two other candidates, Andy Ellul and Stefan Buontempo each obtained 1,243 votes after the elimination of three candidates - Joe Cilia, Dominic Grima and Rita Sammut.
When candidates obtain an equal number of votes, a recount takes place to confirm the result. The recount however gave Stefan Buontempo three more votes than Andy Ellul, but the situation was not immediately resolved. A second recount had Buontempo with one extra vote and a third recount was requested by Ellul, which confirmed that Buon-
I served as minister with integrity and am willing to do the same as an MP Edward Zammit Lewis
tempo had obtained more votes than Ellul.
Ellul was eliminated, and his votes were transferred to Grech and Buontempo, which led to Grech retaining his seat in Parliament while Buontempo lost it.
Grech said that the change to the localities forming the fourth district put him at a disadvantage but now that he has been elected he will give all his energy.
Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi was the last one to be elected from the fifth district, the same district chosen by the Prime Minister. He expressed his gratitude to the people who elected him and said this is another chapter that starts in his political career.