Maltese general election, 2008
Encyclopedia
The latest Maltese general election for the renewal of the House of Representatives of Malta
was held on March 8, 2008. The incumbent ruling party the Christian democratic
Nationalist Party
, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi
, narrowly won over the social democratic
Malta Labour Party
led by Alfred Sant
. The election was held on the same day as the Maltese local council elections
in 23 of the 68 Maltese local councils
. The election was called on 4 February 2008.
Voting began in all 13 districts at 07:00 on 8 March and ended at 23:00, with the voting time extended for an hour due to queues in some areas. The first ballot boxes arrived at the counting centre in Naxxar
at 23:52. The counting of ballot papers to ensure that there were no discrepancies ended at about noon, with the actual counting of votes continuing throughout the day.
Initial exit polls and statistics suggested very close results, and indeed the results narrowed as the count progressed. Preliminary results built on statistical projections from the major parties had been expected by around midday, but the extremely slim margin forced electoral officials to complete a full first count, rather than relying upon samples which were far too close to call. PN Secretary General Joe Saliba
and MLP Deputy Leader Michael Falzon
were directly involved in the statistical computations in the counting hall.
Just before 21:30, the General Secretary of the Nationalist Party, Joe Saliba, declared victory by a margin of 1,200 votes to the ecstatic jubilation of PN counting agents and supporters. MLP deputy leader Michael Falzon later conceded the defeat on March 10 at around 03:00.
Just under 2% of registered voters, 5,266 individuals, did not collect their voting documents, so fewer than 310,000 people were eligible to vote on 8 March 2008. In total, voter turnout was 93%, the lowest in Malta since 1971. Official results issued on the basis of first count votes, showed the Nationalist Party leading the Malta Labour Party, with actual votes being distributed 49.33% to 48.9%, thus giving a lead to the PN of 1,580 votes.
While the PN won the popular vote, they did not win a majority of MPs; the MLP got 34 seats and the PN only 31 seats. Following the election law, the popular vote winning party is thus assigned additional MPs (in this case, four seats) to ensure the party has a majority.
Four political groups participated in this election: Democratic Alternative
(Alternattiva Demokratika, AD), National Action
(Azzjoni Nazzjonali, (AN), Labour Party (Partit Laburista, PL), and Nationalist Party
(Partit Nazzjonalista, PN).
As many politicians contested the election in more than one constituency, so-called "casual elections" were held in April 2008 to fill the seats not taken by these candidates; twelve MPs were elected this way, six each for the MLP and the PN.
House of Representatives of Malta
The House of Representatives is the unicameral legislature of Malta and a component of the Parliament of Malta.The House is composed of an odd number of members elected for a five year term...
was held on March 8, 2008. The incumbent ruling party the Christian democratic
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Malta)
The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi
Lawrence Gonzi
Lawrence Gonzi is a Maltese politician who has been Prime Minister of Malta since 2004. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta from 1988 to 1996, Minister of Social Policy from 1998 to 1999, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004...
, narrowly won over the social democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
Malta Labour Party
Malta Labour Party
The Labour Party is, along with the Nationalist Party, one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
led by Alfred Sant
Alfred Sant
Alfred Sant is a Maltese politician. He led the Labour Party from 1992 to 2008 and served as Prime Minister of Malta between 1996 and 1998 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1992 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2008....
. The election was held on the same day as the Maltese local council elections
Maltese local council elections, 2008
Local elections were held in Malta on 8 March 2008, the same day of the general election. This year, the election was held in 23 of the 68 Maltese localities...
in 23 of the 68 Maltese local councils
Local councils of Malta
Since 1993, Malta has been subdivided into 68 local councils or localities . These form the most basic form of local government and there are no intermediate levels between it and the national level...
. The election was called on 4 February 2008.
Voting began in all 13 districts at 07:00 on 8 March and ended at 23:00, with the voting time extended for an hour due to queues in some areas. The first ballot boxes arrived at the counting centre in Naxxar
Naxxar
Naxxar is a village in the central north of Malta, with a population of about 13,647 people . The Naxxar Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories. The feast is celebrated on September 8...
at 23:52. The counting of ballot papers to ensure that there were no discrepancies ended at about noon, with the actual counting of votes continuing throughout the day.
Initial exit polls and statistics suggested very close results, and indeed the results narrowed as the count progressed. Preliminary results built on statistical projections from the major parties had been expected by around midday, but the extremely slim margin forced electoral officials to complete a full first count, rather than relying upon samples which were far too close to call. PN Secretary General Joe Saliba
Joe Saliba
Joe Saliba was the General Secretary of the Nationalist Party of Malta , taking over from Lawrence Gonzi.Saliba undertook most of the strategy and statistical work of the party, and to date is one of the most successful General Sevretaries in Malta, holding a record three consecutive wins at a...
and MLP Deputy Leader Michael Falzon
Michael Falzon
Michael Falzon is a Member of the Maltese Parliament of the Malta Labour Party . He stood as a candidate for the second and tenth electoral divisions of Malta for the PL...
were directly involved in the statistical computations in the counting hall.
Just before 21:30, the General Secretary of the Nationalist Party, Joe Saliba, declared victory by a margin of 1,200 votes to the ecstatic jubilation of PN counting agents and supporters. MLP deputy leader Michael Falzon later conceded the defeat on March 10 at around 03:00.
Just under 2% of registered voters, 5,266 individuals, did not collect their voting documents, so fewer than 310,000 people were eligible to vote on 8 March 2008. In total, voter turnout was 93%, the lowest in Malta since 1971. Official results issued on the basis of first count votes, showed the Nationalist Party leading the Malta Labour Party, with actual votes being distributed 49.33% to 48.9%, thus giving a lead to the PN of 1,580 votes.
While the PN won the popular vote, they did not win a majority of MPs; the MLP got 34 seats and the PN only 31 seats. Following the election law, the popular vote winning party is thus assigned additional MPs (in this case, four seats) to ensure the party has a majority.
Four political groups participated in this election: Democratic Alternative
Democratic Alternative (Malta)
The Democratic Alternative is a Green political party in Malta, particularly dedicated to environmentalism.-History:Democratic Alternative was founded in 1989 when former Malta Labour Party President Toni Abela and former Labour MP and Parliamentary whip Wenzu Mintoff joined a number of...
(Alternattiva Demokratika, AD), National Action
National Action (Malta)
National Action was a right-wing Maltese political party active between 2007 and 2010.-History:The party was founded in June 2007, the two most prominent founders being Josie Muscat, a medical doctor and entrepreneur and a former MP of the Nationalist Party, and real estate magnate Anġlu Xuereb...
(Azzjoni Nazzjonali, (AN), Labour Party (Partit Laburista, PL), and Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Malta)
The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
(Partit Nazzjonalista, PN).
As many politicians contested the election in more than one constituency, so-called "casual elections" were held in April 2008 to fill the seats not taken by these candidates; twelve MPs were elected this way, six each for the MLP and the PN.
See also
- List of MPs elected in the Maltese general election, 2008
- Maltese local council elections, 2008Maltese local council elections, 2008Local elections were held in Malta on 8 March 2008, the same day of the general election. This year, the election was held in 23 of the 68 Maltese localities...
- Malta Districts