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Vote counting has begun in Malta following a general election widely expected to hand the ruling Labour Party a historic fourth consecutive term in office despite concerns over overdevelopment and corruption.
Polling took place across the Mediterranean island nation on Saturday, with ballot boxes transported overnight to the Counting Hall in Naxxar, where officials began tallying on Sunday.
Prime Minister Robert Abela, who called the election a year ahead of schedule, sought a renewed mandate to help the country navigate growing global economic uncertainties. His Labour Party campaigned on its economic record, stating steady growth and stability since taking office in 2013.
The main challenger is Nationalist Party candidate Alex Borg, a lawyer who campaigned on a platform of change. If elected, Borg would become Malta’s youngest leader.
Preliminary results are expected later on Sunday, with opinion polls projecting a Labour victory over the opposition Nationalist Party.
Abela has led Malta since 2020, succeeding a predecessor who resigned following a political crisis linked to the 2017 assassination of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Although international reports have continued to raise concerns about corruption in Malta, the issue featured less prominently during the campaign than economic matters.
Malta’s economy grew by four per cent last year, supported by tourism, financial services and online gaming. However, the country faces challenges from rapid population growth, increased construction activity, pressure on public infrastructure and vulnerability to external economic shocks.
Environmental groups have also raised concerns about the impact of extensive development on the island’s landscape and heritage sites, while climate change and water scarcity remain long-term concerns.
