The wise men have spoken. They tell us that Malta should only have two political parties in Parliament-forever. The master strategists of the Nationalist Party (PN) and the Labour Party (PL) base this argument on a historical pattern, claiming that for the last 60 years, the Maltese people have consistently voted for one or the other party. However, they conveniently neglect a crucial detail: in the last four years, the number of voters who have refused to support either PN or PL has been steadily rising. Today, according to the last MEP election results, this figure has surpassed 100,000 people, about 30% of the electorate.
This significant portion of the population is sending a clear message: they no longer trust the duopoly of PN and PL, and they are no longer willing to choose the lesser evil. Despite this growing sentiment, the political establishment continues to turn a blind eye, dismissing these citizens as indifferent or apathetic.
The reality is far from it. These voters are actively rejecting the entrenched political system that has, for decades, failed to address their aspirations and concerns. They are seeking alternatives, new voices, new policies, and a fresh political approach that truly represents the evolving needs of Maltese society. Unfortunately, the political machinery of PN and PL is designed to sustain the status quo, ensuring that alternative parties and independent candidates face systemic barriers, ranging from media bias to financial hurdles and electoral thresholds designed to stifle competition.
The electoral system itself, based on proportional representation with single transferable votes, theoretically allows for diversity in representation. However, in practice, the system is skewed in favour of the two dominant parties through strategically organised 13 districts. Isn't it time to replace the current 13-district system with fewer districts? Isn't it time to have a national quota on party representation in parliament?
Any recent reforms like the additional parliament seats introduced to support the party that gets the most votes and thus govern, or the co-option of additional female MPs to balance gender in parliament are all calculated based only on the two parties, completely ignoring the thousands of votes across malta who voted for smaller parties and independent candidates.
The lack of parliamentary diversity stifles innovation and progress, leaving many Maltese citizens feeling disillusioned and disconnected from the political process. Issues such as corruption, environmental degradation, housing affordability, and social justice are often sidelined in favour of party-driven agendas and electoral calculations.
It is time to acknowledge that Malta's democracy is evolving, and the political system must evolve with it. The growing disillusionment among voters signals an urgent need for electoral reform, greater transparency, and an inclusive political dialogue that goes beyond the PN-PL binary. Political leaders must rise to the challenge and embrace a more pluralistic vision for the country, one that values the voices of all citizens, not just those who conform to the traditional two-party framework.
The 100,000 citizens who have distanced themselves from the duopoly deserve better. They deserve a political landscape that offers real choice, genuine representation, and a government that prioritises the collective good over party interests. Until these issues are addressed, Maltese democracy will remain incomplete, and the aspirations of a significant portion of the electorate will continue to go unheard.
This is where Momentum's heart is. The hundreds of young people reaching out to us since last year's MEP election is heartfelt. Their energy and enthusiasm encourage us to push once again for a fair, realistic and pluralistic electoral system based on proportional representation.
Some might rebut that we are a small party but, as Arnold Cassola has shown, perseverance in upholding principled values can make a difference even if many perceive you to be small and insignificant.
For us, every person counts, especially those 100,000 who feel left out of the system. We want to engage with them, and we encourage them to reach out to us on partitmomentum.org or on our social media pages and be part of this new chapter in Maltese politics.
Matthew Agius holds a doctorate in geophysics and serves on the executive committee of Momentum.
http://partitmomentum.org