Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462499
12 NEWS maltatoday | THURSDAY • 24 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 3) District 9 – The PN's crowded field NO earthquakes are expected on a dis- trict in which the PN won with a com- fortable 56% margin in 2017, which rep- resented a 2 point increase for the party over 2013. Comprising Għarghur, Msida, San Ġwann, Swieqi and Ta' Xbiex, the ninth district will see a crowded field of PN candidates competing for three seats. The PN has lost Kristy Debono who emerged as the party's frontrunner with over 4,000 first-count votes in 2017. Marthese Portelli, elected in the 2017 election, will also not be contesting this election after she resigned from par- liament. Portelli was replaced by Ivan Bartolo, who vacated his seat in 2020 to make way for Bernard Grech. Deputy leader Robert Arrigo was the PN's final candidate elected on the dis- trict in 2017. This time around the ninth district will see a contest between four lawyers: Jason Azzopardi, Beppe Fenech Adami, Karol Aquilina and newcomer Joe Giglio. Jason Azzopardi and Karol Aquilina, who are both associated with the anti-De- lia faction of the party and the party's bat- tle against corruption, will be contesting this district for the first time. This could be an indication that both candidates are placing their hopes in districts which are more receptive to rule of law issues. Three popular PN mayors, namely Sliema mayor Graziella Attard Previ, St Julian's mayor Albert Buttigieg and Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat, will also be contested. The crowded PN field also in- cludes incumbent MP Karl Gouder. Also contesting are newcomers Gra- ham Bencini, 18-year-old candidate Eve Borg Bonello, and Emma Portelli Bonni- ci, who stands out as one of the most lib- eral candidates contesting with the PN. On Labour's side, four cabinet member, namely Michael Falzon, Clifton Grima, Edward Zammit Lewis and Stefan Zrin- zo Azzpardi are contesting along with promising newcomer Rebecca Buttigieg. District 10 – All eyes on Cassola THE tenth district, which includes Sliema, Gzira, St Julian's and Swieqi, re- mains a firm PN stronghold and the only which it won by over 60% in 2017. But the district also harbours a seg- ment of pale blue and liberal voters with a strong independent streak, reflected in strong showings by AD in past elections including a 714-vote showing in 2013. In 2017 this streak was evident in the elec- tion of Marlene Farrugia, who garnered 1,016 first count votes in coalition with the PN. Farrugia will not be contesting this election and her votes will be up for grabs. Any hope for the PN to win a fourth seat depends on recovering these votes. Unsurprisingly, the more continentally minded district has attracted a crowded third-party field which includes three AD candidates including its former MEP candidate Mina Tolu, and Volt candi- date Thomas 'Kass' Mallia. But the most recognisable third-party representative is seasoned campaigner Arnold Cassola, a former Green Par- ty leader whose impressive CV also in- cludes a stint as an Italian MP and serv- ing as secretary-general of the European Greens. Cassola's relentless scrutiny of abuse of power under Labour also makes him best poised to may be the best poised to inherit votes from PN candidates, making his election a remote possibility if he gets enough first-count votes. But the PN will be hoping to gain an elusive fourth seat if the general tide of the election swings a bit closer than it did five years ago. Four PN candidates who gained 1,000 votes each will not be contesting this election: these include Francis Zammit Dimech, George Pullici- no and Nick Refalo. The crowded PN lists includes incum- bents Robert Arrigo, Karl Gouder, and Karol Aquilina, who will all be re-con- testing. Also joining the fray this time around are Mark Anthony Sammut and Joe Giglio. St Julian's mayor Albert Butti- gieg, who distinguished himself in oppos- ing overdevelopment in his locality, could also be a force to be reckoned with. Emma Portelli Bonnici and Eve Borg Bonello are also contesting the district. In contrast Labour is fielding few can- didates in this district. These include incumbents Evarist Bartolo, Michael Falzon and Clifton Grima. Rebecca Buttigieg is considered to be the most promising of Labour's new- comers. Not contesting this time around is outspoken Gzira mayor Conrad Borg Manché who gained 923 votes in 2017, and former minister Manuel Mallia whose 1,777 votes are up for grabs. District 11: Bernard's safe seat BERNARD Grech is set for a strong af- firmation in a PN-leaning district which includes Mosta and Attard which was previously contested by Simon Busuttil who received an impressive vote count of 11,266 in 2017. Although this is con- sidered a safe district for the PN, the party's share of the vote decreased from 61% in to 55% in 2013 and 2017, in an indication that the district has become more competitive. Grech's presence on the district could arrest this decline. All PN incumbents elected from this district will be re-contesting, including deputy leader David Agius, veteran con- servative MP Edwin Vassallo and former Naxxar mayor Maria Deguara. Among its new candidates the PN is fielding Joseph Grech, who led the PN's youth wing. On the PL side the two major additions are Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and popular Mosta mayor Romilda Baldacchi- no Zarb who could make life difficult for the incumbents. Absent this time around is former minister Chris Cardona, who gained 2,274 first count votes in 2017. BARTOLO EVARIST GRIMA CLIFTON FALZON MICHAEL FALZON MICHAEL Elected in 2017 on the ninth district: (Left to right, from top) Clifton Grima, Michael Falzon (PL); Kristy Debono, Robert Arrigo, Marthese Portelli (PN) – Casual election: Manuel Mallia (PL), Ivan J. Bartolo (PN) Elected in 2017 on the tenth district: (Left to right, from top) Evarist Bartolo, Michael Falzon (PL); Robert Arrigo, Marlene Farrugia, Karl Gouder (PN) – Casual election: Karol Aquilina (PN)