Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with a reduced majority compared with previous polls.
Speaking after early results, Abela described the outcome as a strong endorsement of his government’s agenda.
“This is a victory of all the people based on the programme we presented for all the people,” he said, adding that the result reflected a clear mandate from voters.
Opposition narrows margin
The opposition Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg, conceded defeat, while noting a significant narrowing of the gap. Borg said the margin had been cut to around 18,000 votes, down from roughly 39,000 in the 2022 election, calling the result a setback but urging supporters not to lose hope.
Final results were still pending, but early indications suggested Labour would retain a comfortable parliamentary majority, albeit with a smaller share of the vote than the 55% it secured in the previous election. Turnout stood at 87.4%, slightly higher than in 2022.
Celebrations broke out among Labour supporters at the vote-counting centre in Naxxar, where crowds marked the historic result. Festivities later continued with gatherings at party headquarters and traditional car parades across the country.
Abela called the snap election a year ahead of schedule, citing global uncertainty. His campaign focused on Malta’s strong economic performance, with growth of around 4% last year and low unemployment helping support voter confidence.
However, challenges remain. The conflict in the Middle East has raised concerns about inflation, particularly for Malta’s import-dependent economy and tourism sector, both sensitive to rising fuel costs.
The opposition entered the election weakened by internal divisions, with Borg taking over leadership only months before the vote, leaving limited time to present a fully developed alternative platform.
Malta’s political landscape remains dominated by the Labour and Nationalist parties, with smaller parties failing to cross the 5% threshold needed to secure parliamentary representation.
Abela, who became prime minister in 2020 after succeeding Joseph Muscat, is expected to be sworn in for a new term on Monday.
U.S .President Donald Trump has again said Iran is keen to reach a deal quickly, but a senior Iranian security official rejected the claim, saying ...
A drone hit a petrol station in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv early on Tuesday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the...
Every day since a torrent of mud and rocks destroyed a Nepal-China border crossing high up in the Himalayas last m...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
A drone hit a petrol station in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv early on Tuesday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app, adding that there was also a strike on warehouse facilities in another part of the city.
Every day since a torrent of mud and rocks destroyed a Nepal-China border crossing high up in the Himalayas last month, Arushi Gupta's parents have called and messaged their missing daughter hoping she somehow survived.
Foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand delivered opening statements on Tuesday at the first meeting of a UN arbitration process to resolve a long-running maritime dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours.
A federal judge has halted a Trump administration immigration policy that would have significantly changed how long foreign students, exchange visitors and international journalists can remain in the United States.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has expressed cautious optimism about ongoing discussions with the United States regarding Greenland, signalling that Copenhagen believes a cooperative solution can be reached despite years of political tensions surrounding the strategic Arctic territory.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment