The Labour Party, led by Joseph Muscat, defeated the governing Nationalist Party, which had been in power since 1998, returning Labour to power after 15 years in opposition. The Nationalists suffered a 6% swing away from them in the popular vote, reaching a 51-year low of 43%. Labour achieved 55%, a 58-year high and a nine-seat majority in parliament, with Joseph Muscat becoming prime minister.
In the previous elections in 2008, Lawrence Gonzi's Nationalist Party was re-elected for a third term in government, this time with a narrow one-seat majority in parliament. On 10 December 2012 Lawrence Gonzi's government was defeated in a vote on the 2013 Financial Estimates[1][2] when ruling party MP Franco Debono voted against the government's budget proposal in protest over transportation reform in giving a German operator the contract to manage the national bus service.[2] Faced with loss of supply, Gonzi announced that the House of Representatives would be dissolved on 7 January and a general election called for 9 March.[3]
Electoral systemEdit
The system of voting used was, as in previous elections, proportional representation through modified single transferable vote with five MPs to be returned from each of thirteen districts, i.e. 65 constituency seats in total, with a variable number of at-large seats added to ensure that the overall first-preference votes are reflected in the composition of the House of Representatives. There were also some minor changes to the boundaries of electoral districts from the previous general election and improved voting arrangements for hospital patients.[4]
PartiesEdit
The two leading political parties contesting the election were the Nationalist Party of the incumbent prime minister,[5]Lawrence Gonzi and the Labour Party, led by Joseph Muscat,[6] for whom this was the first general election at the helm of the party. The Third party was Democratic Alternative, a Green Party, which was seeking to elect its first MP.[7] A small number of independent candidates also ran for election.
¤ Opinion polls adjusted for the preference of undecided voters.
ResultsEdit
Labourites celebrate at Castille Square after the election.
Following the announcement of the preliminary result, in which Labour had 39 seats to 26 for the Nationalists, Labour party leader Joseph Muscat said from Naxxar: "I wasn't expecting such a landslide victory for Labour. We must all remain calm, tomorrow is another day." Nationalist party leader Lawrence Gonzi conceded the election in saying "The Nationalist Party needs to begin a reform process and at the same remain rooted in its values."[8] This was the first time the Labour party won a majority in the government since Malta joined the European Union,[9] as well as being the first Labour government since the new millennium (as the previous one should have ended in 2001, but ended prematurely in 1998). Furthermore, the Labour party won absolute majority of the votes in 23 of the 35 localities, increasing its overall share of the votes by 2.2% from the last elections.[10] The Nationalist Party was subsequently awarded four at-large seats, bringing it to 30 in all, to adjust for its share of the first-preference vote.
^Malta’s May Elect Labour Party for First Time Since Euro Start
^"Labour Increases Vote by 2%". Malta Today. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
External linksEdit
Electoral Commission
October 16, 2023
2013, maltese, general, election, general, elections, were, held, malta, march, 2013, elect, members, house, representatives, 2008, march, 2013, 2017, outgoing, memberselected, members, seats, house, representatives35, seats, needed, majorityturnout93, first, . General elections were held in Malta on 9 March 2013 to elect all members of the House of Representatives 2013 Maltese general election 2008 9 March 2013 2017 outgoing memberselected members All 69 seats in the House of Representatives35 seats needed for a majorityTurnout93 80 First party Second party Leader Joseph Muscat Lawrence GonziParty Labour NationalistLast election 34 seats 48 79 35 seats 49 34 Seats won 39 30Seat change 5 5Popular vote 167 533 132 426Percentage 54 83 43 34 Swing 6 04pp 6 00ppPrime Minister before electionLawrence GonziNationalist Elected Prime Minister Joseph MuscatLabour The Labour Party led by Joseph Muscat defeated the governing Nationalist Party which had been in power since 1998 returning Labour to power after 15 years in opposition The Nationalists suffered a 6 swing away from them in the popular vote reaching a 51 year low of 43 Labour achieved 55 a 58 year high and a nine seat majority in parliament with Joseph Muscat becoming prime minister Contents 1 Background 2 Electoral system 3 Parties 4 Opinion polls 5 Results 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditIn the previous elections in 2008 Lawrence Gonzi s Nationalist Party was re elected for a third term in government this time with a narrow one seat majority in parliament On 10 December 2012 Lawrence Gonzi s government was defeated in a vote on the 2013 Financial Estimates 1 2 when ruling party MP Franco Debono voted against the government s budget proposal in protest over transportation reform in giving a German operator the contract to manage the national bus service 2 Faced with loss of supply Gonzi announced that the House of Representatives would be dissolved on 7 January and a general election called for 9 March 3 Electoral system EditThe system of voting used was as in previous elections proportional representation through modified single transferable vote with five MPs to be returned from each of thirteen districts i e 65 constituency seats in total with a variable number of at large seats added to ensure that the overall first preference votes are reflected in the composition of the House of Representatives There were also some minor changes to the boundaries of electoral districts from the previous general election and improved voting arrangements for hospital patients 4 Parties EditThe two leading political parties contesting the election were the Nationalist Party of the incumbent prime minister 5 Lawrence Gonzi and the Labour Party led by Joseph Muscat 6 for whom this was the first general election at the helm of the party The Third party was Democratic Alternative a Green Party which was seeking to elect its first MP 7 A small number of independent candidates also ran for election National Action which stood candidates in the 2008 general election and 2009 European Parliamentary election ceased activities in 2010 and did not contest this election Opinion polls EditDate s Released Polling institute Nationalist Labour DemocraticAlternative Undecided No answer Lead7 January 2012 The Sunday Times 25 2 46 9 29 5 52 1 1 0 1 0 44 3 4 8 July 2012 Misco International 22 32 1 45 10 14 October 2012 Misco International 22 34 1 43 12 13 January 2013 The Sunday Times 27 44 33 54 1 1 38 6 3 March 2013 Malta Today 28 2 40 2 2 4 29 2 12 Opinion polls adjusted for the preference of undecided voters Results Edit nbsp Labourites celebrate at Castille Square after the election Following the announcement of the preliminary result in which Labour had 39 seats to 26 for the Nationalists Labour party leader Joseph Muscat said from Naxxar I wasn t expecting such a landslide victory for Labour We must all remain calm tomorrow is another day Nationalist party leader Lawrence Gonzi conceded the election in saying The Nationalist Party needs to begin a reform process and at the same remain rooted in its values 8 This was the first time the Labour party won a majority in the government since Malta joined the European Union 9 as well as being the first Labour government since the new millennium as the previous one should have ended in 2001 but ended prematurely in 1998 Furthermore the Labour party won absolute majority of the votes in 23 of the 35 localities increasing its overall share of the votes by 2 2 from the last elections 10 The Nationalist Party was subsequently awarded four at large seats bringing it to 30 in all to adjust for its share of the first preference vote nbsp PartyVotes Seats Labour Party167 53354 8339 5Nationalist Party132 42643 3430 5Democratic Alternative5 5061 8000Ajkla Party470 020NewLiberal Alliance120 000NewIndependents320 0100Total305 556100 00690Valid votes305 55698 69Invalid blank votes4 0441 31Total votes309 600100 00Registered voters turnout330 07293 80Source Government of Malta Parliament of MaltaReferences Edit Budget rejected as Debono votes with Opposition Times of Malta Retrieved 10 December 2012 a b Malta government falls after PM Gonzi loses majority Parliament to be dissolved on 7 January election on March 9 Times of Malta Retrieved 10 December 2012 OSCE ODIHR NEEDS ASSESSMENT MISSION REPORT OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights January 2013 Retrieved 16 March 2013 in Maltese Partit Nazzjonalista Partit Laburista Alternattiva Demokratika Labour returns to power in Malta after 15 years Malta s May Elect Labour Party for First Time Since Euro Start Labour Increases Vote by 2 Malta Today 16 March 2013 Retrieved 16 March 2013 External links EditElectoral Commission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2013 Maltese general election amp oldid 1174491389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
