Malta’s Labour Party wins record fourth term in parliamentary election

Prime Minister Robert Abela’s Labour Party claimed a record fourth successive general election ‌victory in Malta on Sunday, riding voter confidence in a strong economy, although the size of its overall majority was reduced.

“This is a victory of all the people based on the programme we presented for all the people,” Abela told reporters, ​saying results showed his party had “won a strong mandate”.

Conceding defeat, opposition leader Alex Borg said his ​supporters had cut the winning margin to around 18,000 votes from some 39,000 at ⁠the last election in 2022.

“I know that for many, this is a disappointing day. But you should ​never regret believing in hope,” he said on social media.

Full results are not due until later on Sunday, but ​journalists following the count said Labour looked on course to win a comfortable parliamentary majority, although with less than the 55% share of ballots cast it took in 2022.

The election on the southern Mediterranean island was held on Saturday and drew ​a turnout of 87.4%, slightly up on 2022.

CELEBRATIONS AND CAR PARADES

As soon as the opposition Nationalist Party ​conceded defeat, cheers erupted from Labour supporters at the Naxxar counting complex, with many holding up four fingers to mark ‌the historic ⁠fourth straight victory.

Supporters later celebrated at party headquarters and held traditional car parades in the European Union’s smallest state which has a population of about 550,000.

Abela called the snap election a year ahead of schedule, citing the challenges from an uncertain international situation.

Malta’s economy is among the best performers in Europe, growing 4% last ​year, with no real unemployment.

However, ​the conflict in the Middle ⁠East has raised concern in Malta as elsewhere of a possible spike in inflation.

As a country reliant on imports and tourism, it is particularly vulnerable to the ​impact of higher oil prices and of costly aviation fuel.

For much of the ​legislature, the ⁠Nationalist Party appeared divided. Borg became leader only months before the election, leaving him little time to consolidate authority or craft a fully coherent alternative vision.

Six political parties were on the ballot, but Labour and the Nationalist Party ⁠have been ​the only ones to make it to parliament since 1966, ​with smaller parties garnering less than 5% of the vote – the threshold to win a seat.

Abela, who succeeded Joseph Muscat as Labour leader ​in 2020, will be sworn in on Monday.