With the Labour Party now confirmed as being the winners of the 2022 General Election, the country's attention is on who will form part of Robert Abela's new Cabinet.

A number of PL candidates were elected on two districts. Such a strong showing means that they could likely be given a strong ministry.

Aside from the Prime Minister, Clyde Caruana, Chris Fearne, Owen Bonnici, Miriam Dalli, Silvio Schembri, Ian Borg, Clifton Grima and Michael Falzon were elected from two districts.

Chris Fearne was a popular minister in the last legislature, and he was praised for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. He was elected on the first count in both districts he contested. Given his background in the medical field and the way he led the health sector over the past two years, it is likely that he will be reappointed to the post.

Fearne is also the deputy leader of the PL, and had contested the leadership race, which he lost to Robert Abela, when former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had resigned.

Clyde Caruana also made a name for himself after being co-opted to Parliament and later replacing Finance Minister Edward Scicluna in a very delicate portfolio. He was generally well liked as a finance minister and his honesty when it came to Air Malta wouldn't go unnoticed. He will also likely be given a strong portfolio and it is probable that he retains the same position.

Miriam Dalli, who resigned from her lucrative post in the European Parliament to be co-opted to Malta's Parliament and later appointed as Energy Minister, is also expected to be given a top ministry. She is also the only woman to have been elected from two districts.

Both Caruana and Dalli were contesting the national elections for the first time, and their strong showing gives them the credentials to be given an important portfolio.

Silvio Schembri's star keeps growing and the former economy minister will almost certainly take a place on the Cabinet, albeit possibly in a different role.

Clifton Grima was only made Education Minister towards the end of the last legislature after the resignation of Justyne Caruana. His strong showing, and his being elected on two districts for the first time, will earn him a place around the big table at Castille. Whether Abela will insist with him as responsible for education remains to be seen.

Ian Borg was a very controversial figure in the past legislature, but he is certainly well-loved by Labourites, who elected him from two districts too. His was a super ministry last time round, and Abela often said that the minister had delivered, especially when it came to huge road projects. The way he handled the environmental side of things was frowned upon by environmental activists. Abela made the environment the centre of his campaign. It remains to be seen how and if this will affect Borg, but there is no doubt that he will be given another top job.

Owen Bonnici shifted ministries a number of times last legislature. From justice, to education, then research, he took on a number of different portfolios. The last portfolio he had wasn't exactly one that was really in the public eye as much as others were, so could Bonnici possibly be given a bigger ministry now that he has been elected from two districts?

Michael Falzon is a veteran politician who was responsible for the social sector in the past legislature. He might relish a different role this time round.

What is sure is that Malta will have two new ministers for foreign affairs and culture, as the two incumbents failed to be elected.

Bartolo was Malta's Foreign Affairs Minister and Herrera was responsible for culture. Both will need to be replaced.

A number of former ministers were elected on one district.

Roderick Galdes also made a strong showing in the only district he contested, and might make be given something bigger than the housing portfolio he was entrusted.

Aaron Farrugia made it as the last candidate to be elected on the first district, and this might diminish his expectations. Last time round, he was responsible for the environment.

Byron Camilleri also made it through, and should also be on Abela's list, although it is probable that he will be shifted from the Home Ministry. Likewise Edward Zammit Lewis, Clayton Bartolo, Clint Camilleri, Julia Farrugia Portelli and Anton Refalo.

Former parliamentary secretaries Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Alex Muscat might also be looking for a promotion to minister.

In addition, the Gender Corrective mechanism could bring in a number of other female MPs. We will end up with a larger Parliament than we are used to.

It is doubtful that Abela would wait until that process concludes to appoint his Cabinet, but reshuffles throughout a legislature do happen, and that could mean that, perhaps down the line, we might see a bit of a shake-up.

Abela will undoubtedly be weighing his options as to who to appoint to Cabinet over the coming hours and possibly days.