Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545068
DISTRICT 7: LABOUR'S RURAL OUTREACH TESTED The district is composed of two relatively young locali- ties—Żebbuġ and Mtarfa—and and Rabat, which has a relative- ly higher age of 47. Dingli set- tles between these two blocks. The localities form part of the Western region, which in- cludes localities with a lower percentage of foreign residents. Moreover, localities like Ra- bat and Dingli have some of the lowest population densities in Malta. In contrast, Żebbuġ is witnessing urban sprawl and major commercial develop- ments. Recently, a major com- mercial development proposed on the site of the Toyota show- room was put on hold due to its traffic impact. A major political develop- ment at local level was the elec- tion of activist Steve Zammit Lupi as the independent mayor of Żebbuġ after the local elec- tions in 2024. In this election, 31% of the locality voted for in- dependent candidates. The 7 District had also voted strongly (63%) against the ban on spring hunting in the 2015 referendum. Over the past two decades, the 7 District has undergone substantial boundary redraws driven by population booms in the Western region, particular- ly in Żebbuġ. The entire local- ity of Mġarr (3,734 voters) was officially detached from this district and moved into the 12 District in the latest revisions. The PL will be fielding eight candidates in this district. These include ministers Ian Borg, Silvio Schembri and Ju- lia Farrugia. New faces on La- bour's side include Omar Ra- babah and Domestic Violence Commissioner Samantha Pace Gasan. The PN is fielding sev- en candidates including former leader Adrian Delia and MPs Rebekah Borg, Ian Vassallo Hagi and Charles Azzopardi. Among the newcomers, the PN is fielding veterinarian Andrew Agius. DISTRICT 8: CENTRAL MALTA'S BAROMETER This highly urbanised district is still dominated by Birkirkara, which has an average age of 41, but also includes more affluent and older towns like Lija, Iklin and Balzan, which lean PN. This district encompasses part of the Northern Harbour Region, which has seen some of the sharpest urban density in- creases in Malta. Over the past decade, Birkir- kara has attracted non-Maltese workers due to its proximity to central commercial hubs, like Sliema and the Mater Dei Hos- pital-University of Malta zone. The locality is also politically split but had shifted towards the PL in the past decade. But in the June 2024 local elections, Birkirkara plunged into a his- toric, year-long political stale- mate. The 13-seat council was split down the middle—the PN won six seats, the PL won six seats, and a lone independent councillor, Kaylocke Buhagiar, held the balance of power. Meanwhile, local commu- nities in Balzan and Lija have been on the receiving end of major residential development projects like the approval of a 102-apartment block on the site of the former Dolphin su- permarket. The 8 District has been the subject of a major redrawing of boundaries in 2025, includ- ing the detachment of Fleur- de-Lys, which has been moved into the 1 District. At the same time, a part of Naxxar was ab- sorbed into the 8 District. An analysis of previous elec- 4 NEWS 4 NEWS 4 maltatoday | TUESDAY • 26 MAY 2026 NEWS ELECTION 2026 Localities Average Age Mdina 55.4 Żebbuġ 40.8 Dingli 43.1 Mtarfa 41.3 Rabat 46.8 District 7: Towns and age Note: Average age is that of Maltese residents only. Source: NSO Year PL PN Others Turnout 2003 42% 57.2% 0.8% 96.9% 2008 47.8% 50.6% 1.6% 93.9% 2013 56.5% 42% 1.5% 94.3% 2017 56.4% 42.2% 1.4% 93.2% 2022 55.5% 41.4% 3.1% 87.6% District 7: General election results Source: Electoral Commission Localities Average Age Balzan 42.7 Most of Birkirkara 40.8 Iklin 44.2 Lija 46.2 Naxxar (part of) NA District 8: Towns and age Note: Average age is that of Maltese residents only. Source: NSO How demographics are reshaping In a five-part series James Debono explores how Malta's shifting age profiles, urbanisation patterns and internal Over the past two decades, the 7 District has undergone substantial boundary redraws driven by population booms in the Western region, particularly in Żebbuġ