Election Desk: The Cast is Complete – Meet Your Candidates

As the sun sets over the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta, the political stage for Malta’s upcoming elections is set. The cast is complete, and the island braces for a lively debate. Who are the players vying for your vote? Let’s meet them.

Labour’s incumbents and new faces

Prime Minister Robert Abela leads the Labour Party into these elections, with a cabinet that’s seen some shuffling. Chris Fearne, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister, has stepped down from cabinet but remains an MP. In his place, Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici takes the deputy PM role. Other familiar faces like Finance Minister Clyde Caruana and Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo retain their portfolios.

Labour’s list includes some new faces too. Former journalist and MP Rosianne Cutajar is back, joining the party after a brief hiatus. Dr. Clifton Grima, a medical doctor, and Dr. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, a lawyer, are among the new candidates. Labour’s list also includes several women, with a target of increasing their representation in Parliament.

The Nationalist Party’s revamped team

The Nationalist Party (PN) has undergone a significant revamp under the leadership of Bernard Grech. The party has adopted a more youthful image, with several new candidates under the age of 35. Grech himself is the youngest party leader in Malta’s history.

Among the new faces are lawyer and former journalist Dr. David Agius, and Dr. Alex Muscat, a medical doctor. The PN has also fielded several women candidates, aiming to increase their representation in Parliament. Familiar faces like former party leader Simon Busuttil and former Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami are also on the list.

Independent candidates and smaller parties

This election also sees several independent candidates and smaller parties vying for seats. Among them is former Labour MP Marlene Farrugia, who is running as an independent in the 13th District. The Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party is fielding candidates in several districts, led by party leader Carmel Cachia.

The Workers’ Party, led by Michael Briguglio, is contesting all districts. The party, which advocates for workers’ rights and social justice, has seen an increase in support in recent years. Other smaller parties like the Democratic Party and the Malta Workers’ Network are also fielding candidates.

What’s at stake?

With the cast complete, the focus now shifts to the issues at hand. Labour is campaigning on its record of economic growth and social progress, while the PN promises change and a break from the current administration’s policies. The smaller parties and independents offer alternative views and challenge the dominance of the two major parties.

The election, scheduled for March 26, will see Malta’s 69,000 eligible voters choose their representatives in the House of Representatives. The party that wins the most seats will form the next government, with the Prime Minister being elected by the majority of MPs.

As the campaign heats up, one thing is clear: Malta’s political scene is dynamic and diverse, with a range of voices vying to be heard. The stage is set, and the show is about to begin.