Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/869387
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2017 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 FOR the man whom the PN administra- tive council, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil included, said should reconsider his candidature over the Jersey offshore account revelations, the General Council vote effectively rebuffed Busuttil's style and leadership. Delia got 616 votes (45.5%) while Na- tionalist MP Said came in second with 425 votes (31.4%), and outgoing PN treasurer Alex Perici Calascione got 296 votes (21.9%). Frank Portelli got just 11 votes, and together with Perici Calas- cione, was eliminated from the race. Delia will now face Said in the popu- lar electoral contest for the PN's paid-up members. "We are going to start working on this choice from this very day," Delia told supporters at the PN headquarters. "We must start working to unite the PN," he added, in a triumphant tone that already carried the timbre of victory on 16th September. "To those people, who I haven't yet won their confidence, I will do my best to win that trust... from now on, all those who support me must share in this mes- sage: a message of unity." Delia's success found little favour with the PN's coalition partner Marlene Far- rugia, the Democratic Party MP. "You can now dig yourselves a tunnel straight to the headquarters of 'Panama Labour', so you can merge this monument right now. After all, what is there to choose from?" she said on Facebook in a sarcas- tic dig at Delia's offshore revelations. Earlier in the day Nationalist Party leader Simon Busut- til and the four candidates bidding to succeed him, cast their vote in the first round ballot early in the morning. 1,354 votes were cast, with 128 voting in an early round – only 13 of eligible voters did not cast their vote. The doors at the Nationalist Party's Pieta headquarters opened at 8am yes- terday. Under new rules pioneered by Simon News PN LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS Councillors turn their back on RESULTS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL VOTE Adrian DELIA 616 (45.5%) Alex PERICI CALASCIONE 296 (21.9%) Frank PORTELLI 11 (0.8%) Chris SAID 425 (31.4%) Invalid votes 6 Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi shakes hands with a well-wisher as he emerges after voting from the PN's headquarters, accompanied by the PN MEP David Casa. Outgoing PN leader Simon Busuttil casts his vote. Under rules he pioneered for the party, this is the first leadership election to be ultimately decided by party's paid-up members Voting underway on Saturday's election for a PN leader: Adrian Delia casts his vote, flanked by his wife and law firm partner Nickie Vella de Fremaux; Alex Perici Calascione is greeted by the Electoral Commission; Nationalist MP Chris Said casts his vote; and 'back to basics' candidate Frank Portelli makes a point shortly after casting his vote. PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI