Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462347
12 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 MARCH 2022 Election 2022, district by district James Debono gives his breakdown of the main races on each electoral district in this year's election (Part 2) District 5: The battle of the leaders THE Labour party has seen its vote share in the district of Birżebbuga, Kirkop, Mqabba, Ħal Farruġ, Qrendi, Safi, Mqabba and Żurrieq, expand from 61% in 2003 to 66% in 2017. But in the last election, the party still failed to clinch a fourth seat in this district by just 186. By deciding to contest the fifth district in- stead of playing home in the sixth 'Qormi' district, Robert Abela could be aiming at regaining the fourth seat which the party had won in 2013 when its list included dis- trict heavyweight Karmenu Vella. Abela could also be aiming at hitting two birds with one stone: humiliating the Op- position leader who will also contest this district, and also surpass Joseph Muscat's 12,886 first-count votes in 2017. But in so doing he is taking a gamble, especially if Grech manages to close the gap in this dis- trict denying Labour a fourth seat. And by contesting this district, Abela has complicated the life of a number of Cabi- net members contesting on the district. This is because four sitting cabinet mem- bers – Miriam Dalli, Julia Farrugia Portelli, Owen Bonnici, and Stefan Zrinzo Azzo- pardi – are also vying for a seat. This means that if Labour only elects three seats, the fate of one or two Labour ministers could be in jeopardy. Abela may still leave a window open for those left out from the contest if he chooses to keep his 2nd District seat, as this would trigger a casual election. While energy minister Miriam Dalli, whose father-in-law Karmenu Vella was a district strongman, is best poised to clinch second place by contesting the district, Abela has denied her the opportunity of registering a strong showing which could establish her as one of Labour's strongest candidates. For Bernard Grech this is also bound to be a challenge. By taking the risk of playing 'away' in a Labour district Grech may be putting the party before his own person- al pride. For while the district includes his hometown B'Bugia, he will be contesting a district where only one third vote for his party. His goal in doing so must be that of retaining an endangered second seat for the party. Toni Bezzina looks best poised to win the second seat. Up for grabs this time round are the 1,143 votes gained by Hermann Schiavone, who will not be contesting this time around. Apart from Bezzina, the PN is presenting a list made of new candidates like Francine Farrugia, Stefan Caruana, and Owen Sciberras all new candidates. Stanley Zammit who gained 626 votes in 2017 is not contesting. It also remains to be seen whether the party will retain the 821 votes gained by former PD leader Marlene Farrugia who had contested on the PN list in 2017 but will not be contesting again. Securing all these votes is vital for the PN to win a second seat but considering that Farrugia, had her own personal following even among traditional Labour voters, se- curing these votes will not be automatic. District 6: All eyes on Rosianne WILL voters return Rosianne Cutajar to parliament despite being reproached by the Standards Commissioner for her in- volvement in a property deal with mur- der suspect and 17 Black owner Yorgen Fenech? This is one of the questions facing vot- ers in the strategic sixth district which in- cludes Qormi, Luqa and Siggiewi, where Labour has seen its vote share increase from 55% in 2003 to 59% in 2017. It also remains to be seen whether the trend of increased Labour dominance in this once competitive district will continue or not. Up for grabs in this district are the 3,403 first count votes clinched by Robert Abe- la in a district which includes hometown Qormi. Apart from Cutajar, whose candi- dature has been endorsed by former La- bour leader Joseph Muscat, the district is also contested by Transport Minister Ian Borg, who was not elected on this district in 2017, and Housing Minister Roderick Galdes. Not contesting on the PN's side is Clyde Puli – a long-time MP and former mayor of the town who gained 2,556 first count votes in 2017. Ryan Callus, whose stature in the party has grown under Bernard Grech, is expected to retain his seat. Qormi councillor Jerome Caruana Cilia, given much prominence on the PN media, is also expected to do well. It also remains to be seen whether the PN will secure all the 494 first-count votes gained by former Labour Minister Godfrey Farrugia who contested on a PN ticket in the 2017 elec- tion. District 7: The battle in Ian SCHEMBRI SILVIO FARRUGIA PORTELLI JULIA ABELA ROBERT BONNICI OWEN GALDES RODERICK CUTAJAR ROSIANNE ZRINZO AZZOPARDI STEFAN Elected in 2017 on the fifth district: (Left to right, from top) Joseph Muscat, Julia Farrugia Portelli, Owen Bonnici (PL); Toni Bezzina, Hermann Schiavone (PN) – Casual election: Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi (PL) Elected in 2017 on the sixth district: (Left to right, from top) Silvio Schembri, Robert Abela, Roderick Galdes (PL); Clyde Puli, Ryan Callus (PN) – Casual election: Rosianne Cutajar (PL)