Labour triumphs in Malta election, preliminary results show

Malta’s Labour Party (PL) has won an unprecedented fourth term in a victory for Prime Minister Robert Abela, a sample of vote counts showed.

Preliminary results gave the election to PL, officials at the counting hall in Naxxar said on Sunday, as fireworks were set off across the tiny Mediterranean island.

“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”.

“Let us maintain the spirit of national unity and move the country forward together,” he said.

Journalists following the ‌vote count said PL had won a comfortable parliamentary majority, although it appeared to be narrower than in 2022, when it took 55 percent of all ballots cast. The election was held on Saturday and saw ⁠a turnout of 87.4 percent, slightly up from the last general election in ⁠2022.

Charles Bonello, general secretary of the opposition Nationalist Party (PN), conceded the election ⁠in remarks to state ⁠broadcaster TVM, but said his party had nonetheless managed to slash back Labour’s majority.

Abela, 48, called the snap election a year early, saying the government needed a fresh mandate to shield the tiny, import-heavy island from geopolitical crises.

While Malta’s economy grew 4 percent last year, there are concerns the conflict in the Middle East could have an impact on tourism due to spiralling aviation fuel costs and drive up inflation.