Malta’s Newest Political Force: Ready to Govern?
From Protests to Parliament: Malta’s Newest Political Force
Imagine this: a sea of colourful umbrellas filling Republic Street, the heart of Malta’s capital, Valletta. It’s not a festival, but a protest. Thousands of voices echoing through the historic streets, demanding change. This was the scene in 2020, when a new political force began to take shape. Today, they’re ready to govern.
Birth of a Movement
The story of ‘Repubblika’ begins in the wake of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder. A journalist’s killing sparked outrage, fuelled by corruption scandals and a government that seemed deaf to the people’s cries. Repubblika, a civil society group, was born out of this anger and frustration, promising to hold power accountable.
From humble beginnings, Repubblika grew. They organised protests, filed legal cases, and even ran candidates in the 2021 local council elections. Their message was clear: ‘No more business as usual.’ And Malta listened. They won seats in councils across the island, including in the historic city of Mdina.
From the Streets to the Halls of Power
Now, Repubblika is ready to take its fight to the highest level. They’ve formed a political party, ‘Ada’, and are contesting the next general election. Their manifesto is a radical departure from the norm, promising direct democracy, a green economy, and a complete overhaul of Malta’s political system.
“We’re not just another party,” says Repubblika’s co-founder, Manuel Delia. “We’re a movement. We’re here to change the way politics works in Malta.”
Can Ada Govern?
Ada faces an uphill battle. Malta’s political scene is dominated by two parties, Labour and Nationalist. But Ada isn’t daunted. They’ve shown they can mobilise crowds, raise funds, and win votes. They’ve also gained endorsements from high-profile figures, including former EU Commissioner, Joseph Cassano.
“Ada represents a fresh start for Malta,” Cassano says. “They’re not afraid to challenge the status quo, and that’s what we need.”
Yet, questions remain. Can Ada translate their grassroots support into electoral success? Can they govern effectively if they win? . But one thing is certain: Malta’s political scene will never be the same.
