Metsola makes history as Malta Labour Party loses supermajority

Malta’s ruling Labour Party (PL, S&D) is coming to terms with the decimation of its decade-plus-long supermajority, while Nationalist Party (PN, EPP) MEP candidate and incumbent European Parliament President Roberta Metsola makes history.

As Malta’s EU and local council election results trickled in on Sunday, it became clear that the PL were in for a surprise. While they were the overall winners of the vote with 45.3% against the PN’s 42%, they witnessed a significant drop in their lead from a 42,000 vote majority in 2019 to just 8,454 this time around.

This is also the first time in a decade that the PL got less than 50% of the total vote while turnout remained in line with 2019 at around 73%.

The results mean that the PL will have to give up one of its four MEP seats, returning it to the PN and restoring the three-three balance to the Maltese European Parliament delegation.

“Your decision has sent us a message of trust, but also other messages which we understood well,” Prime Minister Robert Abela told a victory rally on Sunday afternoon.

“We will be replying to this message, without work, with a clear message that carries our humility, that we will be keeping our fingers on the pulse and be more sensitive to your needs,” he added.

“While others celebrate a loss,” he said, referring to the PN, “I am here not to celebrate a victory but to tell you I hear your message with great humility. People want a better version of Labour, of myself first and foremost. As of tomorrow, my team will roll up its sleeves and work better towards your interest.”

The ruling party has been rocked by scandals throughout its tenure which has run interrupted since 2013. This included the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, scandals involving Pilatus Bank, citizenship by investment schemes, Electrogas, FATF greylisting, and the ongoing Vitals Global Healthcare scandal.

The latter saw charges filed against former prime minister Joseph Muscat, former health minister Konrad Mizzi, former chief of staff Keith Schembri, and deputy prime minister and commissioner candidate Chris Fearne, as well as other party officials.

Scandal-hit Malta struggles with next EU commissioner candidate

What Malta lacks in size, it has been making up for in controversy ahead of the EU elections. Its commissioner candidate, the former prime minister, and multiple former and current officials were charged with a litany of criminal offences in a scandal that has overshadowed all other aspects of the upcoming vote.

All those charged deny wrongdoing, but the latest incidents are believed to have played a big part in the party’s loss of majority.

Meanwhile, Metsola got 80% of her party’s votes, a third of all votes cast, making Maltese electoral history. She received a total of 87,473 votes, with her PL counterpart, incumbent MEP Alex Saliba, gaining 63,899. Other MEPs elected include the incumbent David Casa (PN), Peter Agius (PN), Thomas Bajada (PL) and Daniel Attard (PL).

Independent candidate Arnold Cassola was potentially in line to get one MEP seat, a first in Maltese history, but was pipped to the post despite getting 4.9% of the vote due to Malta’s single transferable vote system.

He beat predictions which suggested Malta’s third most popular force would be Imperium Europe, a hard-right neo-fascist group whose leader has been convicted of inciting racial hatred. The party came in fourth place with 2.6% of the vote.

While Metsola is yet to comment on her local victory, PN leader Bernard Grech said, “People are realising that the government only takes notice of them when an election is around the corner. It is not PR that improves people’s lives, but a genuine love for our country and its people.”

“I am not here to speak about numbers. I am here to speak about people’s lives. The PN will give the country a strong economy, education, healthcare and good governance. We are offering hope for a better country. We are here for you,” Grech said, looking forward to the next general election in 2026.

(Alice Taylor | Euractiv.com)

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