The next general election will happen next year, in 2022, Prime Minister Robert Abela told journalists on Monday – ending speculation that Malta could be days away from heading to the polls.

Abela made the statement at the end of a press conference on Monday, saying that any general election would be held when it is in the national interest.

Having dodged questions on the topic for weeks and having even not spoken in his usual customary Sunday political address for two weeks in a row, Abela finally put the prospect of an early election to bed.

"I have always said that one criteria will determine when an election will be held - the national interest. I do not think that it is in the national interest for an election to be held this year, and therefore it will take place in the year it is scheduled for, 2022," Abela said.

"I believe I was very clear… the election will be held next year," Abela said when pushed for more details.

He blamed the Opposition for speculation of an early election, and said that they had created unnecessary uncertainty within the business community for that reason.

Both 27 November and, more recently, 4 December had been mooted as potential dates for an early election – with speculation increasing after Pope Francis postponed his scheduled visit to Malta late this year.

The government has until 3 June 2022 to dissolve Parliament and announce a general election, which could then be as late as September.

Multiple polls show that the Labour Party has a near unassailable lead over the Nationalist Party, placing it in a strong position to repeat the landslide victories it achieved in 2013 and 2017, when Malta last went to the polls.