-an OD of Love-

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 16:48CET Harry Vassallo to submit his resignation Harry Vassallo, leader of Alternattiva Demokratika, has announced he will submit his resignation from the chairmanship of the party at its next meeting next month. AD polled just 3,810 votes nation-wide last Saturday, equivalent to 1.31 percent of the total vote. The party got 0.68 percent of the vote in the 2003 election (when it actually campaigned for number 2 votes) and 1.21 percent in the 1998 elections. Dr Vassallo admitted that the party had expected much better this time around. He said he would submit his resignation but would stay on if the party so requested him, although he would prefer to work as a foot soldier. Dr Vassallo said the electoral law needed to be reformed because although AD had won the equivalent of a quota, it would not be represented in Parliament. There was also a need for election debate to focus on issues of substance rather than personalities, he s

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 13:10CET Gonzi calls for calm, good natured celebrations Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has made his first public appearance since the Nationalist Party declared its election victory yesterday. He appeared on the balcony of the newly-built PN headquarters to acknowledge the cheers and applause of hundreds of supporters who crammed the square in front of the headquarters. A banner hanging from the balcony carried Dr Gonzi’s picture and “Grazzi” (thank you). Dr Gonzi was accompanied by his wife Kate and their children, deputy leader Tonio Borg and general secretary Joe Saliba. Many supporters had earlier made their way to Valletta where they expected Dr Gonzi to be sworn in, but the ceremony was put off when it was decided that since the PN had not won an absolute majority of votes, the swearing-in ceremony should follow the completion of the vote-counting process. In a few comments, Dr Gonzi thanked the people, saying he especial

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 13:49CET Gonzi reacts to Sant's resignation Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in a first reaction to Alfred Sant's resignation, has thanked the MLP leader for the energy he put into the service of the country. Speaking to reporters at PN headquarters, Dr Gonzi said Dr Sant and himself had a relationship of mutual respect, and he regarded Dr Sant as a worthy political adversary. He wished him well. Replying to questions, Dr Gonzi said it was too early for him to comment on the formation of the Cabinet, but the priorities of the new government would be to build on the success achieved over the past few years. An "exciting adventure" lay ahead for Malta, he said. Dr Gonzi made it a point to thank his parents. He said his father had suffered a cold but was now fine. (There had been speculation that he was in hospital).

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 11:23CET Alfred Sant resigns with immediate effect In a press conference , Alfred Sant has submitted his "irrevocable" resignation from MLP leader. Alfred Sant thanked all those who helped throughout the Labour campaign. He said Lawrence Gonzi has a big responsibility, since this is one country and nobody should be discriminated against. When asked his opinion about the electoral defeat, he said that the factor of 'power of incumbency' was present. Sant added that for the time being he will remain a Member of Parliament, until further discussions with the new Labour leader.

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 03:28 Labour concedes election defeat The Labour Party has conceded electoral defeat, PN general secretary Joe Saliba said. He said at the counting hall in Naxxar that after all figures were confirmed, the party had contacted him to concede the election. The difference between the parties was of 1,500 votes.

PN WINS jubilation, time to celebrate...

Posted 21:37: The PN has won by a relative majority and will be have more seat than the MLP which in fact won a majority of seats. Posted 21:25 : PN win election 2008 by slimmest of margins Joe Saliba announces that the PN won the election by 1,200 votes. Posted 21.12: First count votes 6th District Mlp Charles Mangion 3845 Posted: 21.10: F irst count votes: 8th District MLP John Buttigieg 22 5th District Silvio Izzi Savona 551 4th District Karl Chircop 4371 Posted 20:58: First count votes 5th District AD Patrick Attard 224 AN Anthorny Mercieca 96 MLP Joe Farrugia 821 MLP Farrugia Migneco Ancel 264 6th District Gavin Gulia 290 8th District AD Mario Mallia 75 AD Harry Vassallo 313 Posted 20:55: Roderick Galdes (MLP) obtained 1634 first-count votes on the Sixth Electoral District Posted 20:54: Speaking to journalists, PN deputy leader Tonio Borg urged caution. None of the parties will make an official declaration before the first count ends and the votes are counted. He said this urge

but the maltese people are still waiting and in the meantime I have become the unhappy uncle of three sheepish 'lion cubs'

and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... for some news... for the last 14 hours... in the meantime, I’ve run out of fingernails to bite and I ate every chocolate bar in the house and drank gallons of coffee. My neighbour son is giving birth to 'lion cubs'(sheepish ones:)).

Thanks to Jacques Zammit the following is a poem by Antoine Cassar JUM IR-RIFLESSJONI Għada l-elezzjoni… Jiena, Malti ta’ barra u barrani ta’ ġewwa, wara nofs ħajja f’eżilju bl-addoċċ nissindika mill-bogħod, jirriżulta li għada se nixħet għall-ewwel darba l-vot. Jum ir-riflessjoni… Passiġġata fil-Belt, qassata, ir-rassa tan-nies, paqqa wara paqqa, nieqaf ħa nieħu nifs fejn it-teatru mwaqqa’ biex bilqiegħda il-kummiedja nosserva. Tant tgħallimt u tħawwadt mit-tagħjir u l-għajat bla għadd li ħsiebi rabba s-sura ta’ qrun iċ-ċerva… waqt li f’qorrigħat in-nies nissemma’ bejn il-partiti jissokta t-tpartit ta’ semm is-suppervja. Mur semma’ leħnek f’nofs dil-ħerba, frattarija u ċaqċiq! Għada nivvota nixtieq… Nivvota nixtieq, f’pajjiż fejn l-ilsna klubija ma jaħlux ta’ kuljum ir-riq isewdu t-triq bi mxija li minnha ħadd ma jfiq… Nivvota nixtieq, f’pajjiż fejn il-blu jfisser baħar u sema u xejn iżjed minn baħar u sema, fejn l-aħmar ma jfissirx dmija, fejn fil-kamra ta’ l-imtallgħa darba, darbtej

thanks to Jacques Zammit