Labour Party candidate Fleur Abela has strongly rejected claims that Malta's international reputation has declined, insisting that the country remains "highly regarded" on the global stage.
Speaking during an interview about her decision to contest the next general election, Abela pointed to Malta's recent diplomatic achievements - including its presidency of the Council of Europe, its tenure on the United Nations Security Council, and its leadership of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - as proof that Malta continues to command respect abroad.
Drawing on her own experience working in Brussels, Strasbourg and New York, Abela said she had witnessed firsthand how Malta is viewed internationally, arguing that the country has strengthened its standing over the past several years despite criticism from political opponents.
Abela returned to Malta around 10 months ago after diplomatic work in France. She has since moved from diplomacy to private legal practice, and then to Animal Welfare commissioner. She is now a general election candidate contesting the first district on the Labour ticket, and hopes to bring her international law and diplomacy experience to Parliament.
Abela said the role of Animal Welfare commissioner played an important part in maintaining checks and balances, but added that holding elected office would allow her work to be "more effective", and give her greater scope to bring about change. She also confirmed that it was the Prime Minister who approached her to run. Abela's decision to contest in the first district stems from family roots in Valletta, Marsa, and Hamrun. She said that politics has always been a part of her upbringing.
Abela said she wants stronger representation for women, people of the LGBTQ+ community, and other minority groups. She said that some parts of society still lack visibility and a voice in Parliament. Animal welfare is of course one of her signature issues, and she said that animals also require a voice. She suggested that existing commitments have lacked action.
"Talk is cheap. Talk needs to be translated into action," she said.
Overdevelopment and environmental degradation
When asked about her stance on overdevelopment and planning reform, Abela said that Malta "needs to continue looking at sustainability" in construction, including how buildings are designed. She endorsed Labour's position to preserve Gozo's current culture and outlook. She said that maintaining Gozo's characteristics is "key" while still allowing economic growth. She also said that development "should not end up being more important than the overall environment of our country".
Abela highlighted government schemes to restore old homes and preserve old Maltese houses and facades. She said Malta must avoid environmental damage "to the extent that we can't go back". She claimed that Labour is trying to take a step forward when it comes to the environment, and referenced the inauguration of gardens and public spaces as examples of environmental improvement.
Abela expressed frustration with persistent criticism of these government projects. Some critics, she said, dismiss gardens as "still empty land". She also argued that people have forgotten where the construction boom started, and insisted it wasn't in 2013.
"The first skyscraper which was ever built in Malta is the Portomaso tower, and that wasn't built under a Labour government," Abela said.
That being said, Abela admitted that Labour should improve in making sure that our heritage and environment are preserved.
When asked about the key issues affecting her district, Abela identified overpopulation, traffic, parking, and the regeneration of the Marsa port. She called for coordination between local councils and government, saying that these problems can only be addressed through cooperation. She expressed her belief that local councils are an important element in national governance.
Defence of Labour's economic record
Abela acknowledged that some people lack the disposable income to buy property. She said that there are pockets of society struggling with property purchases. That being said, she said Labour's manifesto is attempting to address this issue.
Abela repeatedly stressed that Labour needs to keep on listening to people. She warned that parties risk becoming "stagnant" if they fail to renew themselves. She praised Labour for bringing in "new people with new ideas". According to Abela, Labour remains rooted in social democratic values while adapting to change. She described the 2026 manifesto as "built by the people for the people".
Abela said that Malta now has stability compared to pre-2013 insecurity. Before 2013, Abela said, people worried about paying bills and mortgages. She implied that Labour's legacy is one of economic stability and quality of life. Now, the focus should move beyond stability toward wellbeing, she said.
Turning to the election, Abela said that Labour's manifesto measure which she praises the most is financial support for therapy for children and dependent young people. She specifically references disorders such as autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities, framing them as "invisible disabilities". The therapies to treat such disorders cost a lot of money, and Labour's proposal is set to help families struggling with these costs.
"We need to have a government which ensures integration and which doesn't leave people behind," Abela said.
Abela was further asked about her stance on Parliament's gender corrective mechanism. She said that she is in favour of such, stating that Parliament needs more women as they bring perspectives that men "cannot truly understand". She said that politics, similarly to fields like law and medicine, is a male-dominated-sphere, pointing to the composition of Parliament since 1964 as evidence.
That being said, Abela believes that the gender quota should ideally become unnecessary. She said she supports the mechanism for the time being, but hopes it will eventually become unnecessary as female participation increases.
When asked how she handles criticism and public pressure, Abela said that she faced online bullying, intimidation and threats, both after being appointed as Animal Welfare commissioner and during the electoral campaign. She said she accepts constructive criticism, but rejects bullying.
"I will not be intimidated or bullied into silence by people who have a different political view," Abela said.
Abela confirmed that she would have to step down from the role of Animal Welfare commissioner if elected to Parliament. She said that legislation prevents Members of Parliament from simultaneously serving as commissioner.