District 3 profile: A repeat of Fearne fever?

In the latest in a district-by-district look at the key general election battles, Daniel Ellul profiles the third electoral district, which includes Żejtun, Għaxaq, Marsascala and Marsaxlokk. Read all the district profiles here. 

In 2022, Chris Fearne was not only the most popular government minister, but probably one of the most popular politicians in Malta. The then health minister had been leading the country through the two-year COVID pandemic and did so with remarkable results.

So, it came as no surprise in March when 5,870 voters chose him as their first choice in that year’s general election – more than double the district’s second-best performer, Owen Bonnici.

In the legislature that followed, Fearne kept the health portfolio for two years under a new PL government and remained popular.

He was set to become Malta’s choice for European Commissioner and had even been given the EU funds portfolio in January 2024 as part of a wider reshuffle, before he was charged in connection with the Vitals scandal in May. Maintaining his innocence, he resigned as minister but kept his parliamentary seat.

The former deputy prime minister’s name is again on the ballot this year on the third and fourth districts.

“Chris is still very popular in the district, but not at the same levels as three years ago. Back then, only the prime minister could do better,” district insiders told Times of Malta.

Cleanliness, parking, fishing, jobs and housing

Constituents in districts with well-off towns tend to speak to MPs and candidates about different issues.

“In district three almost no one speaks to you about a tender, building on ODZ land or something like that – the issues are usually about getting a government job, a work transfer request being ignored or housing,” one district insider said.

Other constituents, particularly in Marsascala, complain about parking and public cleanliness, while in Marsaxlokk fishermen want to be reassured that the cost of bait and fuel will remain stable.

A PL fortress

Like the second district, district three, is considered a PL stronghold, a reputation honed not only by electoral results (69 per cent of the district voted PL in 2022) but by history.

In 1987, Żejtun’s Tal-Barrani area was the site of Malta’s most infamous episode of political violence in an attempt to stop the Nationalist Party from holding a mass meeting.

The district, and Żejtun in particular, has retained a reputation since then of being a PL “fortress”.

Just like 2013, 2017 and 2022, the PL is expecting to nab four out of the district’s five seats in a ballot sheet that is crammed with members of the executive.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, Transport Minister Chris Bonett, Housing and Industrial Relations Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul and Fisheries and Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said are all running on the third district.

Bonnici and Ellul performed strongly in 2022. Bonnici received 2,525 first-count votes in 2022. Ellul won the district’s fourth seat – a satisfactory result considering it was his first electoral attempt.

Both are known to have continued focusing on constituency work during their four years in government, often opening their local offices and touring town squares to meet supporters.

Bugeja Said was elected to parliament via the gender corrective mechanism in 2022 but has worked to build an electoral base since then. As fisheries junior minister, she will be hoping to have a decent support in Marsaxlokk. While fishing rarely makes headlines in Malta, sources estimate that half of Marsaxlokk is impacted.

“If it’s not themselves directly, there is a good chance a relative of theirs is a fisherman or relies on the industry,” a source said.

For Carmelo Abela, 30 years in parliament does not guarantee a seat

Besides the ministers, Carmelo Abela is also contesting the third district. Abela was first elected to parliament 30 years ago and has been elected in every general election since.

But that 30-year electoral career does not necessarily guarantee success come election day. Abela was left without a ministry in the last legislature –  disadvantage for district politics.

Constituents often approach ministers with issues and requests, such as government jobs, work transfers, help with grant applications and housing requests.

Those ministers then approach their cabinet colleagues to solve the issue. They are then expected to reciprocate those favours when the time comes.

Insiders have described the system as a “market”, with ministers who oversee more authorities and responsibilities considered “stronger players”. MPs who are not members of the executive –- from both the PL and PN – tap into that system, but without a portfolio of their own they are seen as less influential.

However, Abela’s face recognition and the fact his name will appear first on the PL’s electoral list could be enough to get him elected.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett was elected via neighbouring District 4 in 2022. He did not contest the third district. However, sources said Bonett started campaigning in the district recently to improve his chances of being elected, with the knowledge that the fourth district, similar to the third, is very competitive.

Times of Malta reviewed Infrastructure Malta’s social media posts between April 15 and May 15. The exercise showed that most projects announced during the period were located within the third and fourth electoral districts, both contested by Bonett.

Ray Abela, who was elected in 2022 via a casual election, is also contesting the district.

Stephen Spiteri likely to nab PN seat

Family doctor Stephen Spiteri is popular on the third district and managed to win the PN’s only seat in 2022. However, Spiteri is even more popular on the second district, which includes Cottonera.

PN rules oblige candidates elected on two districts to keep the seat where they received the most votes and give up the other.

Should Spiteri be elected on both districts, a casual election will take place.

Carm Mifsud Bonnici was elected following Spiteri’s casual election. Mifsud Bonnici, who is not running this year, might not have made it to parliament at all had Janice Abela Chetcuti contested. However, she decided not to contest the casual election on the third district since she was assured a parliamentary seat through the gender mechanism.

Abela Chetcuti is again contesting on May 30. Beside her will be Ray Gatt, a surgeon who has featured heavily in the PN’s electoral campaign, particularly on health issues.

He was at the forefront of one of the PN’s first keystone proposals of the campaign – to build new general hospitals across the island.

Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto ran in the MEPs’ election. She will also be contesting on district 3.

Casual elections in the district could well decide who ends up in parliament for both sides.

For Labour, Fearne, Bonnici, Bugeja Said, Ellul, Bonett, Ray Abela and Carmelo Abela are all running on two districts.

If some are elected on two districts, possible casual elections could open up more spots on the district.

The candidates running on the district are:

ADPD: Brian Decelis.

Aħwa Maltin: Marianne Sacco.

Labour Party: Carmelo Abela, Ray Abela, Chris Bonett, Owen Bonnici, Martina Paula Buhagiar, Alicia Bugeja Said, Andrew (Andy) Ellul, Chris Fearne, James Grech, Eric Plumpton.

Momentum: Mark Camilleri Gambin.

Nationalist Party: Janice Abela Chetcuti, Andrew Agius, Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto, John Baptist Camilleri, Errol Cutajar, Raymond Gatt, Leone Sciberras, Stephen Spiteri.

Independent: Nazzareno Bonnici.