For the fourth time in a row: The ruling Labor Party wins the parliamentary elections in Malta again.Image: keystone
May 31, 2026, 2:31 p.mMay 31, 2026, 2:31 p.m
The ruling Labor Party has declared its victory in the parliamentary election in the smallest EU country, Malta. “We made history by winning for the fourth time in a row,” Prime Minister Robert Abela said in a TV interview after initial results showed his party’s lead over the conservative Nationalist Party. Abela said he wanted to be prime minister for all Maltese citizens.
Opposition leader Alex Borg said in a video message on social media that he had called Abela to admit defeat and wish him well. “The people have spoken and we must respect their will,” explained Borg. This is not the result he wanted, but no one should regret voting for his party.
Very high voter turnout
How big the gap is between the two parties is still unclear. The counting of all votes should not be completed until later in the day. According to official information, voter turnout was more than 87 percent.
Abela (48) had brought forward the parliamentary elections that were actually expected for next year at the end of April. He cited global geopolitical concerns as the reason for this and said his government needed a new mandate to lead Malta and its citizens through an impending energy crisis.
His party focused on continuity in the election campaign and pointed to Malta’s strong economy as evidence of its ability to govern. Borg’s Nationalist Party, 30, presented itself as a force that would improve the country’s infrastructure and reduce Malta’s dependence on foreign workers. The party portrayed Borg – a lawyer and 2020 Mr World Malta winner – as a new, energetic politician who could reorient the country. (sda/dpa/fwa)