Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545063
5 maltatoday | MONDAY • 25 MAY 2026 NEWS reshaping Malta's districts internal and external migration are reshaping the country's electoral districts. Part 2: Districts 4, 5 and 6 6. referendum. This underlined the strength of the PL-aligned hunting lobby in this district. The inclusion of vast swathes of land in Żurrieq's Nigret area in the infamous rationalisation exercise carried out by a PN government in 2006, has also returned to haunt the present administration, which has confirmed this inclusion by approving zoning applications. Increased pressure by NGOs has led Abela to commit himself not to allow residential development on government-owned land in the area. But it remains to be seen whether disgruntlement on local issues will erode Labour's dominance in the district. No major district boundary changes have been enacted in this district over the past years. An analysis of past electoral results shows that Labour registered major gains in the 2013 election, when the party saw its vote increase by seven clear points. But the PL has seen its vote decline by two points between 2013 and 2022. The PN has also seen its vote share decline from 33% in 2017 to 32% in 2022. In contrast, third parties increased their share from 1% to 3% in the 2022 general election. Also weighing on the 2022 result was a drop in turnout from 93% in 2017 to 87% in 2022. This corresponded with the PL losing 394 votes from its 2017 tally and the PN losing 476 votes. The PN's greater losses in 2022 underline the weakness of the party in this district. The PL will be fielding a list of eight candidates fronted by Prime Minister Robert Abela and ministers Owen Bonnici, Julia Farrugia and Miriam Dalli. The PN is fielding a list of eight candidates, including MPs Toni Bezzina and Stanley Zammit. However, the PN is also fielding wild card Conrad Borg Manche, the former Gżira mayor. As a former Labour politician, Borg Manche could be ideally placed to sway disgruntled PL voters. The PN is also fielding newcomer Oliver Cini, the marine surveyor who fronted the key proposals for a fuel bunkering hub at Hurd's Bank. Momentum, ADPD and Aħwa Maltin will be fielding one candidate each. DISTRICT 6: THREE TOWNS, THREE STORIES This district includes Qormi which is Malta's fifth largest town, mid-sized Siġġiewi and the smaller and more traditional Luqa. The average age ranges from 41 in Siġġiewi to 51 in Luqa, making this district a balanced one. Internal migration into Luqa and Siġġiewi has risen noticeably in recent years due to major social housing projects and private residential developments. Qormi is slowly being transformed into a commercial hub, which is exacerbating traffic problems. One local issue which took precedence in the campaign was an application for the development of a mosque in an industrial estate in Luqa. In direct collision with the more cosmopolitan outlook adopted by the PL after 2013, the Labour-led Luqa local council publicly pressured the central government and rallied residents to object to the mosque's planning application. Eventually, the project was withdrawn by its proponents. The Labour-led Qormi council has also become increasingly vociferous on land use issues. One significant political development in the local council election in 2024 was the PN winning back a majority in Siġġiewi by a whisker. It was an indication that the party started making inroads in a locality which had shifted to the PL in the previous round. Over the years, the boundaries of District 6 have been repeatedly adjusted by the Electoral Commission to keep pace with population trends. In the 2003 election, District 6 was composed of Qormi, Luqa, Kirkop, and Santa Venera. By the 2008 and 2013 cycles, Siġġiewi was brought into District 6, consolidating it with neighbouring Qormi and Luqa, while Santa Venera and Kirkop were moved out. In 2022, Ħal Farruġ, a rapidly growing residential wing of Luqa, was carved out and shifted over to District 5 to balance the district's ballooning voter quota. In the latest changes, Ħal Farruġ was reintegrated into District 6. Electoral results show the PL increasing its share in the district from 55% in 2003 to 60% in 2022. Contrary to the national trend, Labour actually managed to increase its votes by 389 votes in the district in the 2022 election, while the PN lost 487 votes from its 2017 tally. Both parties are fielding seven candidates each, which include newcomers like Omar Rababah and Ramona Attard on the PL side and academic George Vital Zammit and Siġġiewi mayor Julian Borg on the PN side. Labour's list also includes cabinet heavyweights like Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri, along with district firebrand Rosianne Cutajar. Absent from Labour's ballot is Roderick Galdes, a district strongman, whose candidature was not approved by the party in the wake of controversy surrounding his personal property portfolio and accusation made by former Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi that he was "hobnobbing" with contractors. ADPD leader Sandra Gauci, who hails from Qormi, will also be contesting this district, which historically has been was one of the most difficult for third parties. Momentum and Aħwa Maltin will be fielding one candidate each. Localities Average age Birżebbuġa 42.9 Mqabba 40 Kirkop 41.1 Qrendi 40.9 Safi 40.2 Żurrieq 40.8 District 5: Towns and age Note: The average age is that of Maltese residents only. Source: NSO Year PL PN Others Turnout 2003 60.6% 38.9% 0.6% 96% 2008 60.3% 38.3% 1.4% 94.2% 2013 66.9% 31.8% 1.3% 93.9% 2017 65.7% 33.3% 1% 93.2% 2022 65.2% 31.8% 3% 87.4% District 5: General election results Source: Electoral Commission Year PL PN Others Turnout 2003 54.5% 45.2% 0.4% 95.9% 2008 53.6% 45.3% 1.1% 93.9% 2013 59.3% 39.7% 1% 93.7% 2017 59.4% 39.7% 0.9% 93.7% 2022 60% 37.2% 2.8% 87.5% District 6: General election results Source: Electoral Commission Locality Average age Qormi 43.6 Siġġiewi 40.7 Luqa 50.9 District 6: Towns and age Note: The average age is that of Maltese residents only. Source: NSO ELECTION 2026 ELECTION 2026