Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545107
recent years, however, Gozo has closed the income gap, with regional statistics showing that Gozo's average salary (€21,283) surpassed Malta's (€20,969) for the first time. Data also shows that while 81.6% of Maltese residents work in the private sector, on- ly 66% of Gozitan workers are employed in the private sector. This gives the incumbent gov- ernment greater political lever- age in terms of patronage. Connectivity remains a major issue. With both parties aban- doning plans for a permanent link between the islands, focus has shifted to maritime con- nections, including a new fast ferry link between Sliema and Gozo introduced a few weeks ago. Gozo also tends to be more culturally conservative, with 67% of Gozitans rejecting the introduction of divorce in the 2011 referendum. Moreover, 62% voted in favour of spring hunting in the 2015 referen- dum, overturning a narrow anti-hunting majority on the mainland. While mainland Maltese dis- tricts are frequently altered to balance population changes, Gozo is explicitly protected by the Constitution of Malta to ensure it remains a single, un- divided electoral district. This makes longitudinal com- parisons easier. Statistics show a decline in the PN vote from 58.8% in 2003 to 43.9% in 2022, while the PL increased from 40.8% to 53.5% over the same period. Turnout has also declined, from 95% in 2003 to 88% in 2022. Compared to 2017, the PN lost 1,051 votes in 2022, while the PL lost only 266. This sug- gests that any PN recovery in Gozo depends on regaining ab- stention votes lost in 2022. One major factor shaping the next election in Gozo is the candidacy of PN leader Alex Borg, who is Gozitan. Borg will be flanked by four other candidates, none of whom cur- rently serve in parliament. The PN candidates are: Interna- tional secretary Beppe Galea; Luke Said, an environmental activist who was one of three PN candidates to officially en- dorse the environmental and planning manifestos launched by Malta's main green NGOs; former MEP candidate Norma Camilleri; and Frank Anthony Tabone. The PL, meanwhile, is field- ing five candidates: Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, Planning and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo, MP Abigail Camilleri and George Camilleri. Momentum is fielding Car- mel Asciak and ADPD is field- ing Luke Caruana, while Aħwa Maltin will field its leader, Paul Salomone. 5 maltatoday | THURSDAY • 28 MAY 2026 ANALYSIS ELECTION 2026 ELECTION 2026 reshaping Malta's districts internal and external migration are reshaping the country's electoral districts. Part 5: District 13 Compared to 2017, the PN lost 1,051 votes in 2022, while the PL lost only 266. This suggests that any PN recovery in Gozo depends on regaining abstention votes lost in 2022 PN leader Alex Borg spoke in his home district of Gozo on Tuesday (Photo: PN) Prime Minister Robert Abela spoke in Rabat, Gozo on Wednesday