[WATCH] 93% confirm Simon Busuttil as new PN leader

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802 councillors gave their 'Yes' vote to Simon Busuttil confirming him as the new leader of the Nationalist Party. The yes votes marked 93% of the valid votes cast. According to the party's statute, Busuttil required 66% of the votes to be elected leader.

The new PN leader is expected to address the PN councillors shortly as the PN executive has now gathered before the councillors.

A total of 881 of 901 Nationalist councillors voted during the second round of these elections.

18 of the votes cast were dubious and the electoral commission deemed them as invalid. 61 councillors voted against.

Shortly after the results were announced, the Labour Party congratulated Busuttil for his election. The PL wished him hard work in the interests of the Maltese and Gozitans "without exceptions and divisions".

"As the new leader of the PN and as the new Opposition leader, Busuttil must ensure that the old politics of them and us are eradicated. Together with the government, Busuttil should adopt the politics of unity, maturity and cooperation because this is what Malta and the Maltese deserve," the PL said.

Hundreds of councilors have gathered at the Dar Centrali in Hamrun were a stand selling drinks and party merchandise was also set up outside.

On Saturday, Busuttil, who secured 50.3% of the first round vote, faced off former minister Mario de Marco, who clinched 38.5% (345 votes) of councillors, former minister Francis Zammit Dimech and outsider candidate Ray Bugeja (6% and 5.2% respectively). All candidates conceded defeat on the night of the first round.

Party rules however still demand that councillors vote for the new leader and approve him with two-thirds of the General Council's vote.

Former MEP Simon Busuttil, 44, will be the seventh PN leader in the party's history and he is expected to address the party councillors tonight after counting finishes at 10pm.

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