[WATCH] PN gets two additional seats in parliament • Muscat: 'Labour will respect decision'

Constitutional Court awarded two parliamentary seats • Video by James Bianchi

Finally! After almost 4 years, justice has been served and people's vote will be represented in Parliament. Is-sewwa jirbah zgur!

— Simon Busuttil (@SimonBusuttil) November 25, 2016

The Court of Appeals has confirmed a decision to grant the Nationalist Party two additional seats in parliament, which will also mean that the Maltese parliament, for the first time in history, will have 71 seats.

The Court of Appeals, serving as the Constitutional Court, delivered the judgement in favour of the Nationalist Party this morning, granting it two additional parliamentary seats. On Twitter, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, leader of the Labour Party, announced that the PL will be respecting the court's decision.

Deeply disappointed at court ruling on composition of Parliament. But we respect and will implement. Makes us more resolute for future -JM

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) November 25, 2016

"Deeply disappointed at court ruling on composition of Parliament. But we respect and will implement," Muscat said, adding that this will make Labour "more resolute for future".

Speaking to reporters outside the law courts, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami expressed satisfaction at the judgement. He said, it took the PN "three years and a half to obtain justice".

"What is evident is that Joseph Muscat lost today," he said.

Dangerous precedent today. Any party losing an election can contest the result in court and doesn't have to... https://t.co/jKKm2RqSKg

— Franco Mercieca (@FrancoMercieca) November 25, 2016

If he accepts, the decision will see Mosta mayor Edwin Vassallo returning to parliament, along with another candidate.The judgement will thus increase the number of seats in parliament from 69 to 71.

The PN should now hold 32 seats in parliament, while Labour retains its 39 seats.

The mistakes concerned the allocation of a batch of 50 votes on the eighth district, which resulted in the PL’s Edward Scicluna being elected on the strength of only eight more votes than PN candidate Claudette Buttigieg. Another 10 votes went missing in the 13th district, where Labour’s Justyne Caruana pipped PN candidate Frederick Azzopardi to the post by just nine votes.

Justice prevails. @PNmalta to get 2 extra seats in Parliament. Thanks to all those who worked on the case. #Malta @EPP_MT @SimonBusuttil

— T. Comodini Cachia (@ComodiniCachia) November 25, 2016

A batch of 50 first preference votes belonging to Buttigieg were mistakenly placed in the pigeonhole of PN candidate Michael Asciak, also a contender on the eighth district.