Malta: Governing Labor Party on the verge of historic election victory

Abela called a year-early parliamentary election in April.

Opposition leader Alex Borg of the Nationalist Party said in a video message on social media that he had called Abela to admit defeat and wish him well. “The people have spoken and we must respect their will,” Borg said. This is not the result he wanted, but no one should regret voting for his party.

How big the gap is between the two parties is still unclear. The counting of all votes should not be completed until later in the day. According to official information, voter turnout was more than 87 percent.

Choice preferred

The 48-year-old justified the early election by saying that, in view of geopolitical crises, his government needed a new mandate to protect the island state, which is heavily dependent on imports. Abela has been at the head of the Maltese government since 2020. His father George was president from 1982 to 1992 and from 2009 to 2014. Before Abela, Jospeh Muscat, also Labor, was head of government for two terms from 2013.

Labor focused on continuity in the election campaign and pointed to Malta’s strong economy as evidence of its ability to govern. Borg’s Nationalist Party, 30, presented itself as a force that would improve the country’s infrastructure and reduce Malta’s dependence on foreign workers. The party portrayed Borg – a lawyer and 2020 Mr. World Malta winner – as a new, energetic politician who could reorient the country.

Economic growth, but worries

Malta, the European Union’s smallest and most densely populated member state, recorded economic growth of 4.0 percent last year. The economy is heavily dependent on tourism, online gambling and financial services. At the same time, there are concerns about corruption, excessive development, increasing burdens on infrastructure and public services, and the possible consequences of the Iran war for tourism and inflation.

The election took place on Saturday. The ballot papers were only counted on Sunday, after they had been taken to the central counting center in Naxxar overnight.