Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544052
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MARCH 2026 ANALYSIS the shadow of war second consecutive general election in the shadow of war. Kurt Sansone filters through the noise to try well. Labour candidates having been vy- ing for the past few weeks for column inches in newspapers, putting up social media posts to push their cause and set- ting up constituency offices. Ministers have also been particularly active in the social media sphere, up- loading short videos of themselves an- nouncing initiatives, visiting ongoing works linked to their portfolios and their districts, drinking tea with constit- uents, shaking hands with sportspeo- ple and engaging with pensioners. The flurry of activity suggests ministers are on tenterhooks as they vie for increased visibility. On a less visible but no less impor- tant level is the ongoing activity at grass roots level in preparation for the electoral process with the engagement of party agents and assistant electoral commissioners. To top it all up is the amount of gov- ernment spending on its Shape Your Space campaign—the consultation process asking for feedback on plans to turn Manoel Island, Fort Campbell and White Rocks into national parks—and the Malta Vision 2050 campaign. These are signs of a government wanting to push its agenda by publicising a feel- good message. Abela's options The prime minister may want to use the Freedom Day celebrations organised by the Labour Party next Monday as the platform to call the election. But there is a snag since Freedom Day comes at the start of Holy Week leading up to Easter and it is unlikely Abela would want to disrupt these celebrations. This does not mean that electioneer- ing won't take place on Easter Sunday during the traditional runs with the statue of the Risen Christ as candidates turn out in droves to mingle with the crowds. But if he decides to call an election, Abela will do so after Easter, making it possible to have an election in May or early June. The shortest timeframe for an election to be held is 33 days from the dissolu- tion of parliament. It has also been nor- mal practice for elections to be held on Saturday. If Abela goes to the president on East- er Monday—6 April—the earliest the general election can be held will be Sat- urday 9 May. If the election is called on any other day between 7 April and 13 April, the earliest it can be held is on Saturday 16 May. If parliament is dissolved on any day between 14 April and 20 April, the next plausible election date will be 23 May. If dissolution takes place on any day between 21 April and 27 April, the election will be held at the earliest on 30 May. If Abela decides to follow Joseph Mus- cat's 2017 playbook and blow the whis- tle on 1 May, Workers' Day, the earliest date for the election will be 6 June. It is unlikely the election will be held later than 6 June given the onset of sum- mer, a time when many start planning their holidays and boaters start taking back to the sea. Abela has a big enough time window at his disposal to observe how the Iran war progresses and make his decision accordingly. The only certainty at this stage is that if an election is held within the next couple of months, it will be the second consecutive electoral appointment in the shadow of a war. Abela has a big enough time window at his disposal to observe how the Iran war progresses and make his decision accordingly. The only certainty at this stage is that if an election is held within the next couple of months, it will be the second consecutive electoral appointment in the shadow of a war US Air Force Fighter Jets Support Operation Epic Fury (Photo: US Central Command)