Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544052
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MARCH 2026 ANALYSIS An election in the All indicators suggest Malta is heading to the polls in May or early June in what would be the second and understand why the rumours and what the prime minister's options are ON 20 February 2022, Robert Abe- la told Labour supporters gathered at the Floriana Granaries that the general election would be held on 26 March. The prime minister, who was in search of his first electoral mandate, blew the whistle and unveiled the La- bour Party's slogan, Malta Flimkien (Malta Together). But four days later, in the early morning of 24 February, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Suddenly, the election campaign was hijacked by a war in the heart of Europe that would have repercussions on ener- gy prices and global supply chains. At a time when Malta was exiting its COVID protocols, the war framed how the elec- tion campaign unfolded. Abela portrayed himself as the leader, who captained the country through a pandemic ensuring that Malta emerged relatively unscathed. The skills gained and policies adopted to mitigate the im- pact of the pandemic, he would argue, were the recipe for managing the coun- try through a period of international turmoil caused by the Ukraine war. Roll forward four years almost to the day when Malta voted and the country finds itself on the cusp of another elec- tion, in the midst of another war. The only difference between then and now is that the Iran war unleashed by the US and Israel last month could be more destabilising globally. With Iran retaliating by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and targeting oil and gas infra- structure in neighbouring states, the disruption to global ener- gy and fertil- iser supplies is significant. And the impact will ripple through to consumers in the form of higher prices for fuel, energy and food. While Maltese consumers may be shielded from fuel and energy hikes as a result of government's decision to main- tain subsidies introduced four years ago, the Iran war could have heftier global repercussions than the Ukraine war. This is the back- drop to the decision Abe- la has to make as to when he should call the election. Ab- ela may still harbour the wish to present his administra- tion's last budget in October before calling an election for March 2027. In doing so, Abela would have the honour of being the first Labour prime minister since 1981 to take his administration to its full five-year term. Nonetheless, the Iran war may disrupt that timing. Unless a sudden cessation of hostilities is announced now, which may re-jig the scenario, Abela may also try and take advantage of the Iran war by presenting himself as the 'safe pair of hands' who can steer the ship of state in these trou- bled times. It would provide a contrast with the younger, relatively untested Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg. The signs of an election But why are we even talking of an im- pending election? The strongest hint yet came from Ab- ela last Sunday when he referenced the electoral manifesto during his Sunday morning speech. Many understood his comment to mean that the general elec- tion is round the corner. Additionally, sources close to the PL had told MaltaToday that the strategy team was in place at party headquarters in Hamrun, laying down the ground- work so that Abela would have the wid- est leeway possible to call the election when he deems fit. And there have been other signs as