As the sun rose over the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta, so did the temperature of Malta’s election campaign. Day 17 kicked off with a flurry of activity, as political parties made their final push to sway undecided voters. Let’s dive into the action.

The day started early at the Labour Party’s headquarters in Floriana. Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Robert Abela was already addressing a crowd of supporters, his voice echoing through the narrow streets. “We’ve done a lot in these five years,” he said, “but there’s still more to do.” His message? A call to continue the progress made under his leadership.

Meanwhile, in the Opposition’s headquarters in Pietà, Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech was also rallying his troops. “We need change,” he declared, “a change that puts Maltese families first.” Grech’s message focused on his party’s plans for the economy and education.

As the day progressed, the candidates took to the streets. In the bustling market of Ħamrun, Labour’s candidate for the area, Josianne Cutajar, was handing out leaflets and chatting with shoppers. “I’m here to listen to the people,” she said, “to understand their concerns and take them back to my party.”

Across the island, in the quiet streets of Rabat, Nationalist candidate for the area, Jason Azzopardi, was doing the same. “We need to restore trust in our institutions,” he told a local resident, “and that starts with a change in government.”

As the sun set over the Three Cities, the political rallies kicked into high gear. In the Labour stronghold of Birkirkara, Prime Minister Abela took to the stage, his speech punctuated by cheers and applause. “We’ve faced challenges,” he said, “but we’ve faced them together, as a united nation.”

In the Nationalist heartland of Mosta, Bernard Grech delivered his final speech of the campaign. “We need a government that works for everyone,” he said, “not just the few.” His speech was met with enthusiastic chants of “Bernard, Bernard!”

As the clock struck midnight, the candidates were still out, making the most of the final hours of the campaign. In the quiet streets of Żebbuġ, Labour’s candidate for the area, Clayton Bartolo, was still knocking on doors, his voice echoing in the night. “We can’t afford to stop now,” he said, “not when we’re so close to victory.”

In the early hours of the morning, as the campaign officially came to an end, Bernard Grech tweeted, “Tomorrow, we write a new chapter in Malta’s history. A chapter of change, of hope, and of a better future for all Maltese families.”