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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 OCTOBER 2021
NEWS
election quickie or long game
colours from the shadow of his
predecessor.
"That is a prospect any leader
will not easily discard, especially
with polls consistently giving the
Labour Party a better lead than
the 2017 general election," an-
other source said.
But there is also another con-
sideration that Abela will prob-
ably make and that is Labour's
inability to last a full term.
The 1996 Labour adminis-
tration, which Abela's father
George formed part of, only last-
ed 22 months and the 2013 ad-
ministration was cut short a full
year before the election was due
when Joseph Muscat opted to go
to the hustings in the wake of the
Egrant allegations.
Abela may be tempted to prove
that Labour can last a full term
and call an election anytime be-
tween March and June next year.
It will also give people time to
enjoy the benefits of the budget
that will be presented tomorrow.
Whatever path Abela chooses
the only certainty so far is that
Budget 2022 will be this admin-
istration's last. Whether it is
approved in its entirety may be
a little detail on the road to elec-
tion day.
ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt
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