Peter Micallef takes Jean Pierre Debono’s seat, gives it up for Adrian Delia

Peter Micallef was yesterday elected to Parliament after winning the casual election for a parliamentary seat vacated by PN MP Jean Pierre Debono, however resigned from Parliament just after taking the oath, paving the way for PN Leader Adrian Delia to take the seat.

The winning candidate was required to reach 50% + 1 of Debono’s votes in the last general election, which was 1,653 votes.

Micallef received 1,719 votes. Debono gave up his seat on the 7th District so that PN Leader Adrian Delia can take up a seat in Parliament, and become Opposition Leader. Six Nationalist Party candidates Sam Abela, Dounia Borg, David Vassallo, Peter Micallef Antoine Borg and Ian Vassallo contested the election.

One PD candidate, Lee Bugeja Bartolo opted to contest but he was eliminated immediately.

The PN candidates had declared prior to the casual election that they would give up their seat if elected so that Delia could be co-opted into Parliament.

Micallef kept his promise.

Delia is likely to be sworn in as MP today, with Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil expected to resign the post tomorrow for Delia to take over his full duties the next day.

Delia and Debono were both present at the counting hall. Peter Micallef, during his opening speech in Parliament, said that, “it is satisfying for me to be able to do my part in order for this to happen.”

Micallef thanked former Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Debono for “the step he took”, as well as former Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil “who gave everything he could to the party.” He also expressed his encouragement towards Delia.

Referring to the position of a Member of Parliament, Micallef expressed the satisfaction the job entails.

“It is not easy but it gives you satisfaction, it gets you closer to the people and teaches you the needs of the people,” he said,” adding that “you work for the common good”.

Adrian Delia recently won the PN leadership election, however not being a member of Parliament posed a problem. A number of MPs were not willing to cede their seats. Jean Pierre Debono, a strong supporter of Adrian Delia during the campaign, eventually resigned his seat from the 7th District, which will soon lead to Delia’s entry into Parliament.