Malta’s Vote: A Chance to Keep the Winning Team

Voting began on Saturday in Malta, where people head to the polls to choose their next parliament. The leader of the country, Robert Abela, asked for an early election just a few years into his five‑year term. He said the island faces new global problems that need fresh answers. Malta has had a very strong economy. Last year it grew by 4 percent, and prices for food and fuel stay low because the government has locked them in for almost a decade. That makes Malta one of the cheapest places to live in Europe. Still, some worry that a war far away could push prices higher again and hurt the country’s main source of money—tourism. Flights are getting more expensive, and many people rely on imported goods.Opinion polls show that Abela’s Labour Party is likely to win another term, just as it did in 2013, 2017 and 2022. The opposition Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg, says that the good economy has not helped ordinary people feel better about their lives. They also point to problems caused by a large number of migrant workers arriving in the last ten years, such as higher rents and crowded homes. Only two parties have usually made it into parliament since 1966. Six groups are on the ballot this time, but the smaller ones have never gotten more than five percent of the vote. Abela’s campaign focuses on keeping the economy strong and showing that he can keep things running smoothly. People expect to see the final results by noon on Sunday. The outcome will decide whether Malta keeps its current leadership or changes it.