Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545087
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 MAY 2026 ANALYSIS ELECTION 2026 reshaping Malta's districts that the PN has a larger pool of former voters to recover. In this election, Labour is fielding only five candidates in this district, including Energy Minister Miriam Dalli. The PN, meanwhile, is fielding only six candi- dates, including former leader Bernard Grech. 12 DISTRICT: A DISTRICT IN FLUX The 12 District now includes on- ly three localities, with an average age ranging from 39 in Mġarr to 43 in St Paul's Bay. Driven heavily by St Paul's Bay—Mal- ta's most populous and fastest-growing locality—the district has experienced a massive population surge over the last decade. This has been reflected in ur- ban sprawl, especially in the Xemxija area. St Paul's Bay also holds the high- est concentration of foreign nation- als, including third-country nationals (TCNs). Because foreigners are ineligi- ble to vote in general elections, the 12 District exhibits the largest disparity between its actual population and its number of registered voters. Apart from foreign workers, lower rents have also attracted a number of Maltese residents, particularly older singles seeking a new home after sepa- rating. Due to a massive concentration of short-to-medium-term rental stock, the district experiences some of the highest residential turnover rates in the coun- try. While St Paul's Bay is heavily impacted by tourism development, which is fast transforming the coast into a series of private lidos, Mġarr retains a rural iden- tity, albeit one increasingly attracting affluent residents living in apartment blocks mushrooming in the locality. Mellieħa lies somewhere in between— retaining a semi-rural identity while increasingly facing development pres- sures, including new private residential projects approved on government land in the Qortin and Żnuber areas. Local elections in Mellieħa saw the election of independent candidate Mat- thew Borg Cuschieri, who holds the bal- ance of power in the council, which now has a PN mayor. St Paul's Bay remains a bellwether lo- cality which shifted back to the PN in the 2024 local election. The increase in the district's popula- tion has triggered boundary changes, with a large area in Naxxar removed from the latest boundaries. An analysis of past results shows La- bour making substantial inroads, with the PN declining from 62% in 2003 to just under 50% in 2022. Moreover, the district experienced a progressive de- crease in turnout, which reached its lowest level (80%) in 2022. The drop in turnout impacted the PN more heavily. Between 2017 and 2022, the PN lost 1,092 votes, compared to the PL's loss of 875 votes. In this election, the PL will field nine candidates, including Justice Minister Jonathan Attard and junior minister Alicia Bugeja Said. A newcomer to the district is Labour MP Rosianne Cuta- jar, while Deborah Schembri will be at- tempting a comeback. The PN will field 11 candidates. Signif- icantly, in recognition of the district's strategic importance, party leader Alex Borg will be contesting alongside four sitting MPs and newcomer Georg Vital Zammit, among others. Another party leader contesting the district is ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci, who already serves on the St Paul's Bay local council and may tap voters disillusioned by both parties in this district. Locality Average Age Mġarr 38.5 Mellieħa 42.6 St Paul's Bay 43.1 District 12: Towns and age District 12: General election results Note: Average age is that of Maltese residents only. Source: NSO Source: Electoral Commission Year PL PN Others Turnout 2003 37.1% 62.1% 0.8% 94.9% 2008 39% 58.6% 2.4% 91% 2013 47.2% 50.5% 2.3% 90% 2017 47.5% 51% 1.5% 87.8% 2022 46.8% 49.5% 3.7% 80% Locality Average Age Attard 43.5 Mosta 41.8 District 11: Towns and age District 11: General election results Note: Average age is that of Maltese residents only. Source: NSO Source: Electoral Commission Year PL PN Others Turnout 2003 44.8% 54.4% 0.8% 95.5% 2008 48.8% 49.3% 1.9% 93.3% 2013 42.3% 54.8% 2.9% 93.1% 2017 43% 55.2% 1.8% 92.2% 2022 42.1% 53.3% 4.6% 85.6%