Prime Minister Robert Abela has indicated that a proposal allowing Maltese citizens living abroad to vote at embassies is being considered, but said that it will not be implemented in time for the next general election.

The issue of overseas voting has long been a recurring topic in Malta’s political landscape, particularly during election periods. Currently, Maltese citizens residing abroad must travel back to the country to cast their vote, a requirement that has drawn criticism from citizens and political parties alike.

KM Malta Airlines (and in previous years, Air Malta) has responded to this demand by offering reduced airfares around election time, facilitating travel for voters returning to the islands. However, critics argue that this approach places an unnecessary financial and logistical burden on citizens who live overseas.

Voters this week have been struggling to book their places on these subsidised flights to Malta owing to high demand.

ADPD has been among the most vocal proponents of reform, calling for the introduction of voting at Maltese embassies and consulates. The party argues that such a system would strengthen democratic participation and ensure equal access to voting rights regardless of residence.

When asked about the proposal by a journalist from The Malta Independent, Abela acknowledged that the idea merits consideration. However, he made it clear that it is impractical for the imminent election.

Answering questions about the PN’s proposal to build a fuel hub off Hurd’s Bank meanwhile, Abela suggested that the main person behind the idea is “Malta’s biggest fuel smuggler.”

The PN has proposed the fuel hub as something which would service thousands of vessels passing through the Mediterranean, and would also feed LNG to the Delimara power station via a subsea pipeline, which would allow the removal of the LNG Tanker from next to the power station.

However, Abela told the press that they should be asking who the “hidden investor” behind the project is: “Ask if it is the biggest oil smuggler the country has ever seen. These are the people creating PN’s electoral manifesto,” Abela said.

He did not offer a name for who this person may be, but said that the same “wise guy” had made an identical proposal to the government and had suggested that a Memorandum of Understanding could be signed with the Office of the Prime Minister after the election.

“It’s not for nothing that I threw away this idea,” he said.