Malta Votes Early, Labour Looks Set to Win

The vote began in Malta on Saturday. People went to the polls early because a snap election was called by Prime Minister Robert Abela. He said new challenges could arise from the global situation, so a quick decision was needed. Malta’s economy has been doing well. Growth reached 4% last year, and prices for food and energy stay low. Electricity and fuel costs have been fixed for almost a decade, making them the cheapest in Europe. However, worries grow about future inflation. The conflict in the Middle East could push prices higher across the European Union. Malta imports most of its goods, so any spike in costs could hurt the island’s tourism sector and increase fuel prices for planes.Opinion polls show that Labour is likely to win a strong majority. This would give the party a fourth term in power, as it has won elections in 2013, 2017 and 2022. Only two parties have consistently entered parliament since 1966: Labour and the Nationalist Party. The Nationalists, led by Alex Borg, argue that a good economy does not automatically mean better living conditions. They also point to the rise in rents and crowded homes caused by many migrant workers arriving over the past decade. Infrastructure and health services feel the strain. Results will be announced around noon on Sunday. The outcome will decide whether Malta stays on its current political path or changes direction.