Voters across Malta cast their ballots on Saturday in a snap parliamentary election called a year ahead of schedule by the incumbent government. The contest primarily pits Prime Minister Robert Abela’s governing Labour Party against the opposition Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg.
Polling stations opened on May 30 for the election, which will determine the composition of the nation’s government for the next five-year term. Prime Minister Abela announced the early election amid what he cited as growing global economic uncertainty. According to reports, concerns over rising inflation and energy prices influenced the decision to hold the vote sooner than required.
The Labour Party is seeking its fourth consecutive term in office. Opinion polls conducted prior to the election indicated a lead for the governing party. The Nationalist Party, under its new leader Alex Borg, has campaigned on a platform of change.
Key issues for voters in this election cycle include the economy, the rising cost of rent, and the state of the country’s infrastructure. The public health service has also been a central topic, with Malta’s population growth placing increased demands on services in what is the European Union’s most densely populated member state.
The election is also taking place in the context of the 2017 car bomb assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her work focused on corruption within the country. The killing prompted widespread protests and led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
A subsequent public inquiry into her death concluded that while there was no evidence of direct state involvement in the assassination, the state was responsible for creating an “atmosphere of impunity” that facilitated the crime. In June 2025, a Maltese court sentenced two men to life in prison for their role in supplying the bomb used in the attack.
Official results for the parliamentary election are expected to be announced around midday on Sunday.
