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Maltese celebrate EU poll victory
VALLETTA, Malta (Reuters) -- Thousands of supporters of Malta's accession to the European Union took to the streets in celebration on Sunday after Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami declared victory in Saturday's general election. Cavalcades of cheering supporters waving blue EU flags and white and red Maltese flags converged on the capital Valletta and the second biggest town Sliema, five miles (eight km) east, even as votes from the poll were still being counted. Officials from both Fenech Adami's ruling Nationalist Party and the main opposition Labour Party, which wants looser ties with the EU, said the Nationalists seemed to have won between 51 and 52 percent of the vote. "We've won, we've won, we're in Europe now!'' said Lara Attard, a 20-year-old student dancing on an open truck. "It's a hattrick for Eddie'' said her boyfriend, referring to local elections in one-third of Malta's localities and a referendum on EU membership, both held on March 8, as well as Saturday's general election.'' Malta's Electoral Commission said just over 96 percent of registered voters had cast their votes on Saturday. Such a high turnout is normal for general elections in Malta, but it is higher than the percentage who voted in a non-binding referendum on EU membership on March 8 which the ``yes'' camp won with 54 percent. The Labour Party had refused to recognise the result of that poll, saying the 'yes' vote amounted to only 48 percent of eligible voters, so most of the electorate had not endorsed joining the union. Fenech Adami, 69, who has headed the Nationalist Party for 25 years, called the election just four days before Malta is due to join nine other states in signing the EU accession treaties. Political observers had said the outcome was too close to call, and thousands of people had been glued to their television screens, leaving the streets noticeably empty, even for a Sunday. Fenech Adami claimed victory before a crowd of chanting supporters in Pieta, two miles (three km) from Valletta. ``I have been assured by the experts of an absolute majority of at least 51 percent,'' he said from a balcony. "God willing, on Wednesday I will be in Athens to sign the accession treaty.'' Official results were due to be released later on Sunday and Fenech Adami was expected to announce a new cabinet, expected by analysts to be much the same as its predecessor, on Monday or Tuesday. John Dalli, finance minister in the outgoing administration, said the Nationalist victory was good news for the economy. "This is a victory which gives us certainty and credibility. Over the past four years many did not know where Malta was going, whether we would join the EU or not. Now that is clear. We will join the EU, and that opens huge opportunities for us.'' Evarist Bartolo, education spokesman of the Labour Party, said on Labour television it was clear that EU membership had been the Nationalist Party's trump card. "Clearly a number of Labourites wanted to vote Labour but they want Malta to join the EU,'' he said. Former Labour candidate Wenzu Mintoff told the same programme that given the sorry state of public finances, some people may have turned to the EU for salvation. "The Nationalist Party has won the election with an absolute majority. We respect the people's decision,'' Labour leader Alfred Sant told the television. Respected pollster Professor Edward Scicluna said on state television: ``A conservative estimate based on our sample shows the Nationalist Party winning 52 percent.'' Fenech Adami urged his supporters to be considerate in their celebrations but there was no dampening the enthusiasm of many as they banged on their car horns and blew fog horns. Some had painted yellow EU stars on their cars and on their faces and others danced in the streets. Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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