2005 Maltese local elections explained

Local elections were held in Malta on 12 March 2005. The Malta Labour Party won an absolute majority. Approximately 68% of the eligible voters turned up on election day. In Malta the vast majority of the electorate normally votes on election days, with turnout sometimes averaging above 92% for general elections.

The number of councillors for each locality is determined according to the population in the locality, where 5 is the minimum and 13 the maximum number of councillors. This decision has been strongly criticized and many Nationalists too did not agree with such 'strategic measures', as quoted by the Maltese Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi. The Nationalist Party has been accused of threatening democracy in Malta by reducing the number of candidates just minutes before the closing stipulated time for accepting nominations. Two localities (Marsa and Zejtun, both famous for being Malta Labour Party strongholds) did not vote in these elections because of this reason.

Results

LocalityMLP: %votesPN: %votesAD: %votesind: %votesMLPPNADIND
Valletta (Città Umillisima)45%54%01%3400
Żebbuġ (Città Rohan)--02%5400
Żejtun (Città Beland)nononono8100
Balzan27%73%001400
Dingli65%35%003200
Fontana38%62%002300
Għajnsielem30%58%012%1301
Għasri43%57%002300
Iklin40%52%8%02300
Kirkop69%31%004100
Marsanononono5200
Mellieħa55%42%3%04300
Mqabba49%51%003200
Nadur35%62%3%02300
Pembroke63%29%8%03200
Qrendi54%38%08%3200
San Ġiljan40%54%6%03400
San Pawl il-Baħar44%49%7%1%4500
Santa Venera53%47%004300
Ta' Xbiex64%36%003200
Xewkija67%33%01%4100
Żurrieq--01%5200