The dust has now settled, and one might assume that it is business as usual, with the Labour Party once again securing public office by a comfortable margin. However, this outcome was far removed from what was predicted by the surveys conducted by Vincent Marmara and The Times of Malta, both of which appear to have missed the mark by a considerable margin.
In Vincent Marmara's case, this is the second survey that has raised serious questions about the reliability of his findings. The discrepancies between his projections and the eventual result suggest that such exercises may be doing little more than shaping public perception and influencing the mood of the electorate. Several important questions remain unanswered and deserve the attention of your readers.
While the Labour Party has every right to celebrate its electoral victory, it is equally important to acknowledge the progress made by the Nationalist Party. Considering that Alex Borg was appointed PN leader only seven months ago, the party has managed to make significant strides forward. One cannot help but wonder whether, upon taking office, he had the opportunity to look through the desk drawers and fully appreciate the challenges he inherited.
To his credit, Robert Abela astutely recognised that the momentum behind Alex Borg was steadily gaining ground and therefore called a general election almost fifteen months ahead of schedule. The proof of that calculation now lies in the result.
The new Cabinet has been announced and, with the exception of five ministers, all have been assigned new portfolios. This can reasonably be interpreted as an acknowledgement that the performance of many ministers during the previous legislature fell short of expectations. Robert Abela appeared unwilling to undertake a major reshuffle during the life of the previous administration and instead waited until after securing a fresh electoral mandate.
Although the matter is now effectively water under the bridge, one cannot help but ask why a general election was called almost 15 months before it was due. Some may argue that early elections have occurred before and may occur again in the future. Yet the claim that this falls solely within the Prime Minister's prerogative is not entirely convincing. Within a matter of months, the Labour Party could have implemented a substantial portion of its electoral programme through the 2027 Budget.
It is difficult to understand why a government that prides itself on its strong economic performance would keep numerous incentives and initiatives in reserve - measures capable of further strengthening the economy and improving the quality of life of citizens - only to embark on a brief electoral campaign during which considerable public resources were deployed to rebuild bridges with disillusioned PL supporters.
The final twist came with the publication of a National Statistics Office press release on 1 June 2026. According to NSO figures, unemployment in Malta increased by 22.1 per cent in April 2026 when compared with the same month a year earlier. The number of unemployed persons rose from 10,152 in April 2025 to 12,400 in April 2026.
Equally concerning is the apparent inability of some senior public officials to distinguish between their responsibilities within the Public Service and their activities as officers of a political party. These roles are fundamentally different and should never overlap. Clear demarcation lines must be established, and the Principal Permanent Secretary should take the necessary steps to address such situations rather than appear to tolerate them.
As the new legislature begins, these issues deserve serious scrutiny. Electoral victories may settle political contests, but they should never place legitimate questions beyond public debate.
Gejtu Vella is a People & Industrial Relations Consultant