How party vote shares changed from 2013 to 2014

Watch out for MaltaToday Midweek's (tomorrow, Wednesday print edition) analysis on the votes each party and candidate recieved, according to the electoral districts.

Labour has increased its share of the vote in Gozo by 0.4% over the last general elections in 2013, and by 1.4% over the 2009 MEP elections. This is a clear indication that Labour has consolidated its gains in the sister island where the party won a majority of seats in last year’s general election, despite failing to win a majority of votes.

In this election the PL wins a larger relative majority than that achieved in 2009. While in 2009, Labour’s share of the vote in Gozo amounted to 48%, it now amounts to 49.4%. In 2013 Labour’s share amounted to 49.1% against the PN’s 50%.

On the other hand, the PN sees its voting share decline by five points over last year and by 2 points over 2009.

The survey also shows that the decision to locate the LNG tanker in Marsaxlokk harbour, has had little impact on the electorate.

In fact, in the fifth district of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia, the PN lost 2.1 points while Labour lost 1.7 points over the 2013 general election figures. Both AD and Imperium Europa register an increase in support in a district where both immigration and the environment are primary concerns.

Compared to the general election the PL lost 3,176 voters (20% of its total in 2013) while the PN lost 1,917 voters (25% of its total in 2013).

The only positive news for the PN is that compared to 2009, it gains 248 votes in this southern district. On the other hand the PL gained only 39 votes. This suggests that the power station issue simply served to mobilise a greater share of PN voters than in 2009.

But despite a small increase in turnout among PN voters, it is small parties which gain most from the PL’s 2-point drop from 2009 levels.

Labour seems to have faced greater disgruntlement in the second district, which includes Cottonera. Compared to 2009, the Labour Party has seen its vote tally in the second district decrease by 711 votes compared to an 18-vote decrease for the PN.  Labour also saw a decrease of 630 voters in the third district.