Momentum may have failed to win a parliamentary seat in its first electoral outing, but secretary general Mark Camilleri Gambin insists the party has already achieved something significant.

In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Camilleri Gambin argued that Momentum's performance in the recent election marked the beginning of a long-term political project, pointing to the party's rapid growth, strong policy platform and increasing appeal among younger voters as evidence that it is steadily establishing itself as a credible alternative to Malta's traditional two-party system.

Camilleri Gambin rejected suggestions that the campaign should be viewed as a disappointment. He stressed that the party was founded only 15 months before the election and managed to emerge as what he described as Malta's largest third political force in a relatively short period of time.

"The excitement is real," he said. "We started as a new party just 15 months ago and in one year we became the largest third party. For us, that is an achievement."

He acknowledged that the result was not enough and that Momentum still has considerable work ahead if it hopes to achieve parliamentary representation, but argued that the party's progress should not be underestimated. Most of its candidates, with the exception of veteran politician Arnold Cassola, were entirely new to electoral politics. Despite that, they managed to attract a number of votes which Camilleri Gambin said exceeded what smaller parties typically achieve.

He said many political commentators and voters had congratulated Momentum on presenting a strong manifesto, a professional campaign and a positive approach that balanced criticism with practical solutions.

"We were critical where necessary, but we also offered solutions," he said.

One of Momentum's biggest strengths was its willingness to address issues that he believes were largely ignored by the major political parties during the campaign. Governance and corruption featured prominently in Momentum's messaging, and he argued that both Labour and the Nationalist Party failed to give those subjects the attention they deserved.

Momentum's leadership has also been encouraged by what it views as growing interest from people who had not previously been involved in politics. Camilleri Gambin revealed that a recent meeting for new volunteers attracted more people than the party could comfortably accommodate.

The party received a significant amount of media attention during the campaign, leading some observers to question whether its visibility exceeded its actual support among voters. Camilleri Gambin disagreed with that assessment, arguing that Momentum's vote tally demonstrated that public interest had translated into genuine backing at the ballot box.

"These are new votes that we earned," he said. "You do not get those votes by doing nothing. You get them by working hard and by being visible."

At the same time, he admitted that visibility remains one of Momentum's greatest challenges. During the campaign he frequently encountered people who had never heard of the party or who were unaware that alternatives to Labour and the PN even existed.

"That showed us how much work still needs to be done," he said.

The party was also forced to contend with what Camilleri Gambin described as familiar tactics used by larger political forces to discourage support for smaller parties. He argued that voters are often warned against "wasting" their vote on alternative movements and that such messaging continues to represent a major obstacle.

"There are always attempts to scare people away from voting for third parties," he said. "That was a challenge, and we need to become better at dealing with those situations."

Momentum entered the election presenting itself as a serious political alternative rather than a protest movement, and Camilleri Gambin believes voters recognised that distinction. While he accused the larger parties of attempting to ignore Momentum's existence, he said the party's detailed proposals helped establish its credibility.

He highlighted Momentum's transport proposals in particular, saying many voters identified them as among the strongest and most realistic policy ideas presented during the campaign. The proposals were costed and designed to deliver measurable improvements rather than broad political promises.

"The detail mattered," he said. "People who studied our proposals could see that we are a serious alternative."

The election also saw around 50,000 eligible voters abstain, a figure that raises questions about widespread political disengagement. Asked why Momentum was unable to attract more of those voters, Camilleri Gambin argued that the problem was not the party's message but its limited ability to reach people.

"I believe the main reason is that we simply did not reach enough people," he said.

Far from discouraging him, however, he sees that as a reason for optimism.

"If we managed to convince 4,700 people in such a short time, imagine what we can do with more time," he said.

He believes Momentum's strongest opportunities for growth lie among younger voters. Throughout the campaign he participated in debates and discussions with students, including audiences made up largely of 16-year-olds. According to Camilleri Gambin, those engagements were among the most encouraging experiences of the campaign.

At the same time, he openly acknowledged areas where the party fell short. One of the most notable weaknesses was the absence of female candidates. Camilleri Gambin said several women who had considered contesting eventually decided against doing so for personal and professional reasons, decisions he said were understandable given the additional challenges faced by women in politics.

He argued that structural obstacles continue to discourage women from standing under the banner of smaller parties, particularly because Malta's gender corrective mechanism only benefits parties that already secure parliamentary representation.

"It definitely affected us," he said. "There are still barriers that make it harder for women to contest elections, especially within smaller parties."

Despite those challenges, he maintained that launching Momentum when it did was the correct decision.

"If we had waited for everything to be perfect, we might not have started at all," he said.

Electoral reform remains another key issue for the party. Momentum has repeatedly criticised Malta's electoral system and argued that it disadvantages smaller parties. Camilleri Gambin confirmed that the party remains open to legal action if opportunities arise, particularly in cooperation with ADPD.

Momentum and ADPD have maintained a positive working relationship, he added, and could potentially work together on initiatives aimed at challenging aspects of the current electoral framework.

However, Camilleri Gambin stressed that Momentum has no intention of waiting for reform before continuing its political work.

"We will not slow down just because the system is against us," he said. "I believe we can still beat it."

He reserved particular criticism for the gender corrective mechanism, arguing that it effectively excludes women who choose to contest elections through smaller parties.

"There are politicians who say they want fairness, but when they see something that is clearly unfair, they remain silent," he said.

Camilleri Gambin also dismissed suggestions that Momentum overestimated how ready Maltese voters are to move away from Labour and the PN. He pointed to the tens of thousands of abstentions and the combined vote totals achieved by Momentum and ADPD as evidence that there is significant space for alternative political movements.

He was particularly encouraged by Momentum's performance in districts where smaller parties are traditionally viewed as having little chance of success. His own results in the third district were broadly comparable to those achieved in the 11th District, challenging assumptions that support for alternative parties is concentrated in only a handful of localities.

"People often tell you there are only certain districts where a third party can succeed," he said. "We showed that support exists elsewhere too."

While he believes younger voters currently represent Momentum's strongest base of support, he remains convinced that the party can gradually win over older and more traditional voters as well.

Momentum fielded only seven candidates in the election, prompting questions about whether the party was fully prepared for a national campaign. Camilleri Gambin defended the organisation's performance, noting that many observers described Momentum as the most organised third party they had encountered.

He acknowledged that additional resources, more volunteers and more time would have allowed the party to perform even better, but argued that Momentum made the most of the circumstances it faced.

"We are limited in people and resources, but we did the best we could," he said.

The party's 259-point manifesto was another feature that attracted attention throughout the campaign. While some questioned whether voters could engage with such a detailed document, Camilleri Gambin believes the breadth of the manifesto actually strengthened Momentum's appeal.

"A lot of people told us they liked the fact that we were not a single-issue party," he said.

Rather than focusing on one or two headline topics, Momentum sought to demonstrate that it was prepared to govern across a broad range of policy areas. According to Camilleri Gambin, that approach helped establish credibility and distinguish the party from other smaller movements.

"We proved that a small party is ready to govern," he said.

Looking ahead, Momentum is already preparing for its next chapter. The party is working on strengthening its internal structures, expanding its volunteer base, developing a youth arm and establishing a think tank that will contribute to future policy development.

Camilleri Gambin said there are also several other initiatives currently being planned, although he declined to provide details at this stage.

His ambitions for the next five years are clear. "We want to elect two or three candidates to Parliament," he said. "It is difficult, but I believe we can do it."

He also sees opportunities in future European elections, where smaller parties often have a better chance of breaking through.

"I think we will be much stronger," he said. "The signs are there that we can achieve it."