Election Desk: Let the race begin

Welcome to the Election Desk. This is where we will round up the major headlines of the day, together with some of the more light-hearted and funnier sides of the campaign trail. 

The race has started: After months of speculation, Robert Abela has finally blown the whistle in a message to the nation aired on TV and streamed online. It was a sombre announcement, where he spoke about the ongoing global energy crisis but said that the government has a plan "stretching years". He said the government needs a new mandate to carry this out, and the country will choose that mandate on May 30.

Tlaqna kap: The PN had promotional videos at the ready. MP Darren Carabott went for a short-and-sweet approach with a five-second reel of him with Alex Borg. “Tlaqna, kap?” Carabott asked. “Tlaqna, ejja naħdmu,” Borg said. A few minutes later, Borg published a full reaction, pitching the PN as a breath of fresh air.

Slogan review: And that's what the PN has opted for as their campaign slogan. The Nationalists have chosen “Nifs ġdid” [A breath of fresh air], while Labour has gone with “Int Malta” [You’re Malta]. The PN’s marketing assets are clean and traditional, making the most of Alex Borg’s Mr Malta credentials by placing him front and centre in front of a blue sky. Labour’s graphics are bolder in colour, with a typeface reminiscent of those Canva-generated font combinations. PN placed some banners around but only Labour managed to erect billboards up the same day. I wonder if they got a heads-up? 

The election slogans have been unveiled.

Banner breakdowns: There was another party that tried to get a head start in their advertising, but their efforts were somewhat sabotaged. Momentum set up five political banners on Sunday - three in Santa Venera and two in Marsa - but the banners were removed. The party accused the cleansing department of stealing the banners.

One of the banners 'stolen' by the cleansing department. Photo: Partit Momentum.

No Galdes, no Clayton, no party: On Sunday, former minister Clayton Bartolo said he will not contest the election because of possible attacks on him that would distract from the Labour Party's campaign. He made the decision a day before the executive was to meet and approve more candidates for the election. Meanwhile, the executive turned down the candidature of Roderick Galdes. The former minister resigned in January after a series of Times of Malta stories linking him to contractors. 

What's on today: Labour’s first rally will be happening in Żejtun at 7pm, while the PN is sticking to its home base at Dar Ċentrali at 6.30pm.