Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544021
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MARCH 2026 NEWS Expression of Interest For more info visit micas.art/get-involved or contact procurement@micas.art micas.art Closing at 10:00am on Wednesday 15 th April 2026 Artisans to sell their products in the MICAS Gift Shop MICAS/EOI/002/2026 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 A Maltatoday poll published last week saw only 8% of re- spondents saying they believed the PN would win the next gen- eral election. Nonetheless, the same PN of- ficial said that in other fields the party has managed to draw interest from prospective candi- dates who could be ideal for the infrastructure and health port- folios. The PN also faces the reality of having a number of its veteran MPs not contesting the coming election. Ryan Callus and Clau- dette Buttigieg have already an- nounced this would be their last legislature in the House. This week Opposition MP Ivan J. Bartolo was the latest to join the list, saying his decision, had been driven by a gradual erosion of the motivation and purpose that had pushed him to public life. The drama and disorder he had witnessed in the chamber had made his original vision for cross-party collaboration feel naive in retrospect. But the PN is not the only party left scratching its head for new, trail blazing candidates. While the PL already offers a much more diverse and experienced team with some heavyweights, it still has not managed to rope in big names. This dilemma with star candidates comes as Prime Minister Robert Abela contem- plates calling an election as ear- ly as May of this year and leav- ing everyone including his core team guessing on the date. An early election would de- prive the Nationalist Party of the time to warm up its elector- al machine. On the other hand, it could also hit a snag with dis- enchanted voters who would see no valid reason for an early election. Unlike 2013 when former Labour leader Joseph Muscat managed to rope in big names such as Edward Scicluna, Lou- is Grech, Manwel Mallia and Konrad Mizzi, there are no star candidates in the Labour Party lineup. The flip side to this is that Labour already has a lineup of political heavy weights as part of its ministerial cabinet. They include Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, Environment Minis- ter Miriam Dalli, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg and former health minister and deputy prime minister Chris Fearne. The latter is expected to make a big comeback after what is seen as the ultimate sacrifice after the allegations he faced following the publication of the Magistrate Gabriella Vella in the hospitals concession mag- isterial inquiry. Fearne remains an MP. Labour has already start- ed promoting and pushing its new faces, but none seem to be aimed at attracting the objective voter, but are rather targeting the PL's grass roots. Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta (SEM) CEO Roderick Zerafa, a former communications direc- tor to Ian Borg, will be vying for the second district. But he faces strong competition, with heavy weights including Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, Clyde Caruana, Cleansing Junior Min- ister Glenn Bedingfield, and probably Prime Minister Robert Abela. Other names that have con- firmed their candidature in- clude Labour's International Secretary John Grech who ac- quired a concession from the PL executive to contest, and Ani- mal Welfare Commissioner and daughter of former judge and former PL Deputy Leader Toni Abela. Other candidates are Nigel Vella, once touted for Labour CEO and Yana Debono Grech, the daughter of Labour Birkir- kara stalwart Joe Debono Grech. The names who appeal and are recognisable to the hard core of the PL but not to moderates or floating voters. PN struggles as early election looms, both parties lack star power While both parties remain secretive about the final list of candidates as the general election looms closer, both the Nationalist Party (PN) and the Labour Party (PL) have so far failed in confirming names with gravitas (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)