‘He Deserved It’: PL Floriana Councillor Justin Haber Votes In Favour Of PN Vice Mayor
PL Floriana councillor Justin Haber voted in favour of James Aaron Ellul’s nomination as the town’s vice mayor today.
Although his vote was symbolic, as Ellul would have been elected vice mayor regardless, it is a rare example of cross-party political support.
Haber, a former Malta international goalie, had originally nominated fellow PL councillor Sandra Sammut Hili as mayor and the plan was for him to become vice mayor.
The logic was that PL was the most popular party in Floriana, winning 43.64% of the vote compared to the PN’s 31.01% and should therefore control the council.
However, PL only won two out of five seats, with PN winning two and independent Nigel Holland winning the remaining one. Holland, Ellul, and PN councillor Justine Palmier all voted against Sammut Hili, defeating her mayorship nomination.
Today, the PN announced it had struck a deal with Holland to see the independent councillor appointed mayor and Ellul – who works as the PN’s communications director – vice-mayor.
Holland was voted in as mayor with a 3-2 vote, with both Sammut Hili and Haber voting against his nomination, but Ellul was voted in as vice mayor with a 4-1 vote.
Haber told Lovin Malta that Ellul already had three votes in his favour, which meant he would have been appointed vice mayor with or without his support.
He added that Ellul, as the councillor who won the most number of first-count votes, deserves the role.
“James knows what he wants and he’s loyal to Floriana, so why not? I’m new to politics but my family and I are from Floriana and I want what’s good for the town.”
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