[WATCH] Former junior minister Tony Abela elected to Parliament

Former junior minister Tony Abela has been re-elected to Parliament, following a casual election held to fill the seat vacated by former Nationalist health minister Joe Cassar.

Abela, who served as parliamentary secretary in charge of defence between 2003 and 2008, won 1,978 votes at the fourth count. Although he didn’t meet the quota of 2,038 votes, he was the last man standing at the fourth count, beating former MP Philip Mifsud, who collated 1,892 votes by then.

In brief comments to the press, Abela said that he was ready to do all he can to help out the Nationalist Party.

“I first got involved in politics when I was 23, and my commitment has never died down,” he said. “Up until this day, I lend my help whenever it is required – not only to people from my district, but to whoever needs it.” 

Former MP Peter Micallef, former Rabat mayor Rudolph Grima and Dingli local councilor David Vassallo also contested the casual election, but were eliminated in earlier counts.

Current Mosta mayor and former MP Edwin Vassallo, eligible to contest, ruled himself out due to his commitments at a local level. 

Abela was considered as the Lawrence Gonzi government’s PR nightmare when he served as parliamentary secretary in charge of defence between 2003 and 2008.

Abela had also submitted his nomination for the casual election held to fill in Gonzi’s seat in 2013 after the former Prime Minister resigned in the wake of the calamitous electoral defeat. 

However, Gonzi’s seat was taken by the PN former financial controller, Antoine Borg, who beat off the competition of six other candidates despite only getting 197 first count votes in the election itself. 

Cassar resigned from parliament earlier this month, following MaltaToday’s revelations about his links with businessman Joe Gaffarena.