The 2017 General Election was cutthroat to say the least, with both sides going for the jugular on practically any issue.
As election frenzy engulfed the islands, and there was many-a-memorable moment; some were funny, farcical, worrying, interesting or depressing. Given that it was a general election, people were bound to go a little crazy and perhaps do things in the heat of the moment which they would not do under normal circumstances.
Below are a number of moments which we deemed to be quite memorable, for whatever reason, during the election.
This brings us to the first item on our list:
Marlene and Godfrey running the gauntlet
PD Leader Marlene Farrugia and PD member Godfrey Farrugia arrived at the counting hall, delivered an impromptu press conference, and then walked through the Counting Hall to the tables of their respective districts to see the number of votes they received. All very normal. However, the scene quickly turned sour when PL Counting Agents started to sing the Carnival anthem, in an attempt to mock the two. The Farrugias kept their heads up and walked forward. The second time they went to the hall, Julia Farrugia had just been elected on her district, and when Labour Party members started cheering, Marlene Farrugia began shouting ‘Viva Malta’ and ‘Viva l-Oppożizzjoni’ in defiance.
Who let the dogs out?
There is no doubt in anyone’s minds that Salvu Mallia, while a very entertaining personality, was a controversial candidate to say the least. The PL counting agents expressed their pleasure at the lack of votes he received on the 12th district, when it was his time for him to officially be out of the race. While Mallia was not visible in the hall, counting agents flocked round the 12th district. The Carnival anthem was sung once again, followed by “who let the dogs out”.
Briguglio v Cassola
Michael Briguglio was one of the faces of Forza Nazzjonali, appearing at live events, delivering speeches, and taking part in some campaign videos. He even went as far as urging people to vote for Forza Nazzjonali rather than AD, although he was still a member of AD. Following the election, Briguglio has been very vocal. “As always, Arnold Cassola blames everyone in the world but himself for AD's terrible result. Shall he blame gravity next?” Briguglio asked.
“As regards his obvious digs at me: No, I do not wish my ex-party dead. But yes, I do wish that the AD leadership of Cassola-Cacopardo-Cassar takes responsibility for its terrible performance and quits sooner rather than later, giving space to the young activists who have a future ahead and to possible newcomers.”
Konrad Mizzi’s election
Konrad Mizzi’s controversial return to Parliament was very much expected, however the moment was still a cause for celebration for those who directly supported the minister, lifting him shoulder-high and celebrating.
Celebrations… outside Pilatus bank
Truly an ‘only in Malta’ moment. The day the PL was announced the winner of the 2017 election, a video emerged of a group of supporters sitting on the steps leading to the building which houses Pilatus Bank and posed for a picture.
De la cheese
Early on in the campaign, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was at a political activity when the interviewer, Tiffany Pisani reading the list of candidates, mentioned Anthony Agius De La Cheese.
Birkirkara’s got talent
Beppe Fenech Adami at a political event following Destiny making it through in Britain’s Got Talent, congratulated her, but also used the moment to say “Birkirkara’s got talent!”
Sweaty hands
The Xarabank debate between the two party leaders got particularly heated, with Simon Busuttil hammering on against corruption. The Prime Minister however, seems to have lost his cool and chose to refer to Simon Busuttil’s “sweaty hands.”
The endless candidate videos
PN supporters who attended the daily PN political events, or viewed them online know this too well. The endless number of candidate videos, saying that their best moment was when their child was born and that the thing they value most is honesty. Instead of making these videos interesting, or people tuning in to listen to candidates in their district, this made people tune out.
The awkward meetings
The awkward meetings between Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil will always be remembered. The awkward handshakes, the attitude towards one another gave the impression that the two could just not stand each other.
The most unstable couple
The Prime Minister’s PR team must have had a stroke of genius with this one. Playing on certain contrasting views that Simon Busuttil and Marlene Farrugia had, and possible with a tinge of personal attack given that both separated from the partners they married, the Prime Minister referred to them as the most unstable couple in Maltese politics. This phrase pretty much became a battle cry for PL supporters, and Muscat kept referring to this, making it a very successful campaign cry for the PL.
‘Ejjew Nazzjonalisti’
A common call for PN politicians during mass meetings, however further saw PL supporters mock the PN-PD coalition, considering it was said by PD Leader Marlene Farrugia.
The Russian connection
A question posed by the press following a foreign news article saw the Prime Minister confirm that foreign allied intelligence agencies had informed Malta that the Russian secret service was behind the Egrant allegations. However, he also said that the government did not have evidence of this.
A 35,000 victory
The scene at the counting hall was very much like that in 2013. All PL agents simultaneously raised their hands up and yelled in joy, banging on the Perspex, and shouting ‘Viva Labour.’ When the Prime Minister walked in, the crowd went mad, crying, screaming, a complete outpouring of emotion. The situation on the streets was the same, with carcades around the island, and the area around the PL headquarters jam-packed with people.
Marlene Farrugia dancing
A video capturing Marlene Farrugia dancing at a PN mass meeting in St Julian's brought the lighter side of the campaign to the fore. The video itself went viral.
A donkey on a truck
While PL supporters were carcading and celebrating victory, a photo of a donkey on the back of a truck with a Maltese flag draped over its back was seen by many. This resulted in shock and calls for animal protection authorities to intervene.