Għarb First (Maltese: Għarb l-Ewwel), is a localist party located in and operating only in Għarb village, Gozo (Republic of Malta). It was founded by former PN Mayor David Apap to contest the 2019 Maltese local elections.[1] It gained 2 seats out of the 5 total seats in the Għarb Local Council, and 42.86% of the popular vote, narrowly losing the popular vote to PL by 1.95%, or 19 votes.[2][3] This makes Għarb l-Ewwel the first third party to gain representation in the local level in both the Republic of Malta at-large and on the island of Gozo. This also makes David Apap the first mayor of a village that comes from a third party.[2] This was confirmed after a question on who the Mayorship of the Council was solved after the election.[4]
Għarb First Għarb l-Ewwel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | GĦ1 |
| President | David Apap |
| Secretary | Miriam Borg |
| Treasurer | Cecchini Shirley-Anne |
| Founded | March 2019 |
| Split from | Nationalist Party |
| Headquarters | 12B, Frenċ tal-Għarb Road,  Għarb |
| Ideology | Għarb localism |
| Political position | Syncretic |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism (de facto) |
| Colors | Black |
| Mayors of localities | 1 / 68 |
| Local council seats | 2 / 462 |
Values
editThe party has no known official ideologies.[citation needed] However, the party states in its published party statute that it shall work and endeavour to protect in every legitimate way the interests of the Għarb village population, the wellbeing of Għarb and its community and contest the village's local council elections whenever these occur.[5]
Collaboration between the local Catholic parish of the Visitation in Għarb and the Local Council has been seen throughout this term, through the erection of a statue of Sunta Apap near the one of Frenċ tal-Għarb, both people of saintly fame in Għarb.[6] The party statute explicitly states that should the party dissolve, after all creditors are satisfied, any remaining assets shall be donated to said Parish in Għarb.[5]
Electoral history
editGħarb Local Council
edit| Election | Leader | Contested Seats | Votes | % | Elected Seats | +/– | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019[2][3] | David Apap | 3 / 5
|
417 | 42.86 | 2 / 5
|
New |  2nd
|
| 2024 | 3 / 5
|
591 | 56.29 | 2 / 5
|
+13.43 |  1st
|
References
edit- ^ "'Għarb First' - Former Councillor Comes Back To Haunt PN; Sliema Is Set To Retain Its PN Majority". Lovin Malta. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ a b c "Electoral Commission of Malta". 13 March 2023.
2019 Local Council Election - L-Għarb
- ^ a b Vassallo, Alvin (30 May 2019). "2 kandidati indipendenti eletti fil-Kunsill tal-Għarb". TVM. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ Vassallo, Alvin (30 May 2019). "Fejn se tmur it-tmexxija tal-Għarb – f'idejn il-partiti jew l-indipendenti?". TVM. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ a b GĦARB L-EWWEL - STATUT https://electoral.gov.mt/Media/Default/Documents/PartyStatutes/G%C4%A7arb_L-Ewwel.pdf In Maltese
- ^ "'Sunta ta' l-Gharb' honoured with a new memorial". Gozo.News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.