Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/499233
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 2015 3 News Marsa -52.9% 550 votes St Julian's -48.7% 1623 votes Zurrieq -45.7% 1266 votes St Paul's Bay -42.6% 2505 votes Balzan -42.3% 1196 votes Zebbug -41.8% 665 votes Dingli -36.3% 532 votes Isla -28.2% 425 votes Kirkop -26.6% 394 votes Gzira -26.1% 1207 votes Iklin -24.2% 935 votes Nadur -21.7% 1345 votes Balzan 2073 Dingli 835 Gzira 1634 Iklin 1234 Isla 592 Kirkop 537 Marsa 1168 Nadur 1719 St Julian's 3168 St Paul's Bay 4634 Haz-Zebbug 3698 Zurrieq 2313 Balzan 53.4% Dingli 52.2% Gzira 45.5% Iklin 25.1% Isla -19.5% Kirkop 23.8% Marsa 23.4% Nadur 10.1% St Julian's 60.2% St Paul's Bay 47.7% Haz-Zebbug 36.9% Zurrieq 45.9% 2007-8: Lawrence Gonzi is prime minister and Alfred Sant is Opposition leader. These are the localities that will suffer the greatest haemmorage of votes for the PN by 2012, when the ruling party is at its lowest ebb and Joseph Muscat is Labour leader 2012: Turnouts during these council elections plummet, but it's the PN that registers one of its worst ever electoral results. 2015: Three years later, under Simon Busuttil, the PN normalises support in those areas it suffered the most in 2012 2007-8 local elections Number of votes 2015 local elections Percentage of 2012 vote count won or lost by PN 2012 local elections Percentage of 2009 vote count lost by PN and number of first- preference votes polled Is the PN back in business? CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 approved of the sub-lease, and who the gov- ernment officials involved in the matter were. The contract to the GWU was granted by expression of interest, and the union's offer was by far the cheapest of bids. Bonnici suggested in his letter to Fenech that it was debatable whether the NAO was best placed to determine whether the 1997 lease was breached by the sub- lease to ARMS, and that it should be a court of law to determine this point alone. He added that the NAO's inves- tigation as to whether any govern- ment officials were involved in the deal and whether other simi- lar sub-letting agreements are in place, were "vague" and risked turning the investigation into a fishing expedition. Bonnici suggested instead that the NAO limits itself to establish whether the GPD was aware of the sub-lease in question, of any sub-leases of the building in ques- tion with any other third parties, and what steps were taken by the GPD. But Fenech told Bonnici that the PAC had no power to suggest changes to the terms of refer- ence. Although the NAO is an in- dependent office of parliament capable of carrying out its own investigations, Bonnici insisted with Fenech that since this au- dit was instigated by the PAC it should be the same committee that establishes its terms of refer- ence. "The government side has no intention of stultif ying any inves- tigation, so much so that there is unanimous agreement about it. But we should certainly agree that such investigation be an efficient and effective one," the minister said in correspondence he sent to PAC members and the commit- tee's secretary. Fenech is however insisting that the NAO needs no green light from the PAC as to how it should carry out its investigation. "The PAC is certainly not intended at limiting the Auditor General's work… af- ter the PAC unanimously agreed to have the Auditor General inves- tigate, the PAC cannot be used to limit its investigation for fear that it becomes interminable." It is uncertain whether the gov- ernment side might force the matter into the PAC's agenda, requesting a vote on the terms of reference, upon which it would enjoy a majority. Although chaired by a Nation- alist MP, the government retains four MPs out of the seven-person committee. Currently, ARMS's offices are located in Gattard House, Blata l- Bajda, but the company is in the process of opening a number of regional offices, including Val- letta. The offices of Untours, which form part of the GWU's central building in the capital city, would offer an accessible space in a cen- tral location for Enemalta and WSC clients. The GWU has defended the contract award, saying this was granted following a public call during which the GWU submit- ted its offers. It said that the more favourable bids were chosen. "When it attacks the GWU for taking part in public calls, the PN shows a lack of objectivity," the union said of protestations made by shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi on the sub-lease. "Not only is the GWU the big- gest trade union in Malta, but along the years it invested in a number of commercial projects that support around 160 families. These investments support the work of the trade union in the sole interest of its members." The GWU said the PN repeat- edly attacked its commercial in- terests to weaken its position in defending the rights of the work- ers. "The PN hold the GWU in ill regard… despite a change in lead- ership and promises of 'renewal', nothing has changed." The GWU has defended the contract award, saying this was granted following a public call GWU €309,000 sub-lease to ARMS under NAO inquiry