So much for the Labour landslide
Published:
March 9, 2008 at 1:55pm
It’s just not going to happen. It’s a very, very close call, but the Nationalist Party has the slight edge in most districts so far. I emphasise the so far, because anything can happen at this stage.
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Taken from The Times online just now:
Sunday, 9th March 2008 – 13:24CET
First indications: too close to call
Forty-five minutes into the vote counting process, officials of the two main political parties say the contest is too close to call.
The sorting and counting of votes started at around 12.30 p.m. and officials said the representative samples across all the electoral districts were presenting a mixed picture, although Nationalist Party officials appeared to be more positive than they were earlier in the morning.
Meanwhile many Labour supporters started celebrating victory even before vote counting began, notably in the southern part of Malta but also in Birkirkara, San Gwann and Gozo.
Fingers crossed about this. I still have a great deal of confidence in Maltese shrewdness. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I doubt that the electorate will be taken in by his featherness twice.
Dubious vote counting commences…
Daph – That sign looks like something from a red light district! Did a chicken get it in exchange for the contents of its wallet? :)
Tell us more Daphne.. tell us more please…
Please keep us updated, daphne. TVs are doing a crap job. Your site is better.
Gordon Pisani is smiling and laughing.
Gozo switch to NET TV
Ok, apparently they’re on their THIRD sample now.
It’s going to be a close one, folks.
Malta Today says that difference between parties is only 1%
Nationalists are ahead by 2000, the margin of error is 3000.
Or so they say.
I’ve run out of fingernails to bite and I ate every chocolate bar in the house and finished all the crosswords and drank gallons of coffee. My daughter is ‘having kittens’.
Daphne, thank you for keeping us posted. A site like this is priceless!
The Lion of Change issumat!
Sunday, 9th March 2008 – 14:13CET
“Still some way to go” – Jason Micallef
Labour Party general secretary Jason Micallef has said there is still some way to go before a clear election winner emerges.
Officials from the two main parties are pouring over over the first sample of votes taken from the 13 districts but it appears that the parties are evenly balanced.
In the morning Mr Micallef had said he was confident that the winning party would enjoy an absolute majority.
Nahseb li “kull Vot JGHODD” Michael Falzon ghadu mhux cert.
it sure is a close one, i dont know if anyone noticed, but here in Zejtun (yes unfortunatley i live a fortizza tal lejburisti), the horns have stopped, the carcading has stopped and even the murtali have stopped…fingers crossed!!!
Joe Saliba looks worried, why? I heard sample could be wrong because since Gozo has 2500 more than the others it could skew the result.
The Times says that Alfred Sant is going to visit the Counting Hall soon.
SOON THE PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL WILL BE OUT CELEBATING A NATIONALIST VICTORY.
More from The Times
Sunday, 9th March 2008 – 14:31CET
Both parties have same predictions – Falzon
Both political parties have the same predictions of the election outcome, MLP deputy leader Michael Falzon has told journalists in the counting hall.
He did not say what those predictions are but said one should wait some more. PN officials have also advised caution.
It is understood that Labour leader Alfred Sant will visit the counting hall shortly.
Meanwhile the streets have become noticeably quieter after Labour celebrations earlier in some areas.
Not a good sign that Sant is going there.
[Moderator – I have bad memories of him surrounded by thugs and barging into the counting hall.]
OFFICIAL SAMPLING OF 10TH DISTRICT WE’RE IN THE LEAD http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/commentary/election2008.html
DONT WORRY FRANCIS V. SANT IS GOING TO MAKE HIS FINAL ROUND.
I do not want to CELEBATE I want to celebRate, dna blu!
For some reason I do not understand – http://www.mlp.org.mt doesn’t want to load…..
[Moderator – So is the Independent. They can’t cope with the load.]
Din hija korruzzjoni lampanti. Issa anki l- elezzjoni bazwar l hemm w igbed l hawn. Kafe jew tnejn w sejjer ghand il paravendu. Tiftakru x saqsa lil istudenti ta l-universita. Il-poplu irid il-bidla jew le. L-istudenti jidru li kienu profeti jekk kollox jibqa sejjer kif qed jidher. No surprises please. Dawk gol container wieqaf tal-lejber posthom.
its ours its ours
i worry about my future
i dont want sant in d goverment
MLP webiste has been down for more than 15 mins. Wonder why!!! Very strong rumours that PN are head even though marginally….
[Moderator – I think their server isn’t coping with the number of requests.]
No problem with Maltastar. Was impossible this morning
NOTHING is decided yet…. If it’s so close, anything can happen till all the votes are sorted
posted 15.03 PN OFFICIALS TELL MT THAT THEY HAVE A 4000 MAJORITY, LABOUR REFUSE TO CONCEDE AND INSIST THAT IT STILL TO CLOSE TO CALL. AND WITHIN MARGIN OF ERROR
l-iljun on super one..
l-iljun very prudent now. very different attitude from this morning.
How I wish I can fall asleep and wake up tomorrow morning!!!
A small majority for PN could still bring about a constitutional crisis if MLP win a majority of seats and PN a majority of votes with none getting 50%+1. With a small difference in votes and the small parties taking 1.5% this could very well be a possibility !
The MPs have slept on this possibility for a VERY long time ! Lets hope reason and collaboration will pull us out if it gets to this !
No. No. If third parties do not elect a candidate, the relative majority rules, excluding the third party votes, and the constitutional ammendment is applied just the same.
how much time left?
maltatoday.com is stating that PN officials who are encouraging supporters to gather near stamperija.
ITS NOT TRUE!
hang on. stay calm. stay athome…its still too close!
E
As I see it now if there is a lead this should become more certain as more packets are open. Usually at 66% counted packets the sample will not vary. They are now at 33%. There is now a change of shift and pn delegates should be alert. so please stop sms-ing them.
Watch Austin Gatt, his body language will tell all.
MArie Benoit… Eat your heart out and get a life.
@ih8ubigbird: Does Marie Benoit lean towards the MLP?
[Moderator – Like the the Professor of Leaning Towards MLP at Leaning University, Lean City, in the Republic of Leaning.]