As it happened: Labour to have five-seat majority as PN gains in each district
Robert Abela celebrates 'making history' as Alex Borg says there's 'light at the end of the tunnel'
Labour has won a record fourth consecutive electoral victory, with the Nationalist Party conceding defeat.
Robert Abela said the party had "made history" with the victory. Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg said the PN had gained votes in every district and "drastically" reduced the overall gap.
Labour is projected to have won 51.8% of the vote to the PN's 44.7%. The difference translates to a gap of just under 22,000 votes and a five-seat majority in parliament.
Abela will be sworn in as prime minister at a ceremony held in Valletta at 11am on Monday.
Turnout in the election reached an estimated 87.42%, official figures released late last night by the Electoral Commission showed. That was higher than in 2022.
- Labour wins a record fourth consecutive term
- Robert Abela: 'We made history'
- Alex Borg: 'Light at the end of the tunnel'
- Analysis: A win for Labour, and hope for PN
- PN clinches a second seat in district 4 and district 5
- Eight new faces in parliament
As it happened
Live blog ends
10.50pm Many electoral subplots have yet to be explored, but the key chapters in this story have been written.
This live blog will end here. Thank you for joining us.
We'll be back with more electoral coverage tomorrow.
Invalid votes drop
10.28pm The share of invalid votes practically halved this election. 2% of the electorate spoiled their ballot (intentionally or not).
In 2022, the share of invalid votes stood at 2.9%.
And here's a summary of the overall electoral outcome by district.
How district seats were divided
10.04pm The PN won back a seat in both districts 4 and 5; Labour clung on to their third seat in Gozo by just four inherited votes, despite getting fewer number 1s than the PN.
Final vote totals and percentages
9.40pm The Electoral Commission has published its official tally of first count votes.
Aħwa Maltin are happy
9pm Ahwa Maltin leader Paul Solomone told TVM the party was satisfied with its showing, considering most of its candidates had never contested an election before.
He also said this was not the end and that there was significant interest from people wanting to join their cause. The party would therefore push forward and continue working.
How does this margin of victory compare?
8.45pm Here's how Labour's vote margin of victory compares to previous election results.
Labour will have a five-seat majority
8.30pm Labour will have a five-seat majority in parliament. The party won 36 seats while the Nationalist Party won 29, which was bumped up to 31 to ensure proportionality.
For the sake of comparison, in 2022 it had a nine-seat majority.
Parliament will also get extra MPS beyond these, once a gender mechanism is applied to increase the number of women MPs.
PN gets two extra seats
8.25pm Frank Tabone (District 13) and Janice Abela Chetcuti (District 3) will enter parliament through a side door: the two PN candidates have been elected through a mechanism designed to ensure the distribution of seats is proportional to the spread of first preference votes.
District 10 candidates elected
7.45pm The PN elects three candidates here to Labour’s two.
PN: Conrad Borg Manche, Joe Giglio, Mark Anthony Sammut
Labour: Clifton Grima, Michael Falzon
District 2 candidates elected
7.38pm Labour retains its 4-1 lead in this district, as expected.
Labour: Robert Abela, Glenn Bedingfield, Clyde Caruana, Alison Zerafa Civelli
PN: Stephen Spiteri
Abela: We won by 22,000 votes
7.33pm Robert Abela tells the crowd the gap between parties is of 22,000 votes. He also celebrates Labour retaining its third seat in Gozo.
"They told us Gozo is blue. But it's white and red," he says.
Robert Abela speaks at Floriana rally
7.32pm Robert Abela is speaking to a Labour victory rally in Flioriana. Watch it in the video below.
Ian Borg energises the Labour crowd in Floriana. Photo: Matthew MirabelliDistrict 9 candidates elected
7.30pm The PN wins the district 3-2, as expected.
PN: Eve Borg Bonello, Joe Giglio, Alex Perici Calascione
Labour: Michael Falzon, Clifton Grima
District 5 candidates elected
7.21pm The PN has won a seat here, bringing the district to 3-2 for Labour.
Toni Bezzina and Conrad Borg Manche are the PN's two MPs elected here.
Labour: Robert Abela, Miriam Dalli, Omar Farrugia
District 3 candidates elected
7.18pm Labour maintains its 4-1 margin in the district.
Labour: Carmelo Abela, Chris Bonett, Owen Bonnici, Chris Fearne
PN: Stephen Spiteri
District 1 candidates elected
7.15pm The first district remains a 3-2 Labour one.
Labour: Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Deo Debattista, Nigel Vella
PN: Darren Carabott, Paula Mifsud Bonnici
A four-vote margin in Gozo
7.12pm Here's how close District 13 was.
The PN got a handful more first preference votes than Labour in the district, but Labour retained its third seat there through inherited votes.
It appears a good number of voters there gave their number 1 to PN leader Alex Borg but then continued voting for Labour candidates.
We’re told it beat the PN to that vital third seat by just four votes.
The PN could still manage to get a third MP in the district once a corrective mechanism to ensure nationwide proportionality is applied.
Momentum wants a voice
7.02pm Momentum has called on Labour and the Nationalist Party to back a Speaker jointly nominated by Momentum and ADPD, arguing that the result they achieved presents an opportunity to strengthen Malta’s democratic institutions.
The party said such a move would recognise the thousands of voters who opted for alternatives to the two major parties and send a message that parliament belongs to all citizens, not just the traditional political forces.
District 11 candidates elected
6.56pm The PN wins the district with a 3-2 majority.
PN: Ivan Bartolo, Bernard Grech, Rebekah Borg
Labour: Anthony Agius Decelis, Miriam Dalli
District 12 candidates elected
6.42pm District 12 PN lands the district 3-2
Labour: Jonathan Attard, Alicia Bugeja Said
PN: Alex Borg, Ivan Castillo, Graziella Galea
Labour celebrates retaining Gozo
6.40pm Major celebrations in the counting hall: Labour agents say they have held on to their third seat in district 13.
Clint Camilleri, Anton Refalo and Jo Etienne Abela are the obvious three Labour trio. Alex Borg is a PN shoo-in. The party's second seat is a race down to the wire between Beppe Galea and Frank Tabone.
Clint Camilleri held aloft as they celebrate.Joseph Muscat: We played our part
6.35pm Former Labour leader and PM Joseph Muscat has given his first reaction to the result, in a family photo posted to Facebook.
"We played our part whenever and wherever we were called upon," he writes.
"We believe that, while together we have written an important chapter in our country’s history, our journey is far from over. If we continue to listen to people, understand their needs and aspirations, and work in their best interests, there is still more that we can achieve together."
Muscat's wife and kids hold up four fingers; Muscat holds up five.
How did Momentum do?
6.32pm Momentum chairman Arnold Cassola tells us the party is close to 500 first count preferences on district 11 and close to 700 votes on each of the 9th and 10th districts.
“700 would be my all time record,” he adds.
District 7 candidates elected
6.25pm District 7 maintains its 3-2 Labour edge.
Labour: Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, Ian Borg, Julia Farrugia
PN: Adrian Delia, Rebekah Borg
District 4 candidates elected
6.20pm District 4 is 3-2 to Labour. The PN has gained a seat here. These are the candidates.
PN: Mark Anthony Sammut, Michael Piccinino
Labour: Byron Camilleri, Jonathan Attard, Chris Fearne
District 6 candidates elected
6.16pm District 6 falls 3-2 for Labour.
Labour: Ian Borg, Silvio Schembri, Rosianne Cutajar
PN: Julian Borg, Jerome Caruana Cilia
District 8 candidates elected
6.13pm All votes have been counted, the PN reports.
The district lands 3-2 for the PN.
Labour: Clyde Caruana, John Grech
PN: Adrian Delia, Beppe Fenech Adami, Justin Schembri
Heat is on for Jo Etienne Abela and Andy Ellul
6.05pm Two cabinet members who will be sweating it out are Jo Etienne Abela and Andy Ellul.
Abela is lagging Clint Camilleri and Anton Refalo in the 13th district, where the Nationalist Party is hoping to swing the district and grab a third seat. He also trails Michael Falzon on the 10th, where Labour usually only elects 1 MP.
Ellul’s prospects are also at risk. He is far behind on the 4th and at risk on the 3rd, where he trails Chris Fearne, Jonathan Attard, Chris Bonett and Owen Bonnici.
The race for Gozo
6pm Gozo is quite evidently the most intriguing electoral race of the day: both parties are incredibly close.
PN leader Alex Borg said earlier it looks like the party has regained the district, but Labour agents are now regaining hope they might retain it.
The PN was comfortably ahead by some 400 votes up until half an hour ago, but a ballot box from a Labour stronghold has virtually restored parity. Many party agents in the Naxxar counting hall have shifted to the district 13 zone as they anxiously tally votes.
Labour projects a 20,600 gap
5.45pm We have a first projection from Labour.
The party's electoral official Louis Gatt has told us that the party expects the gap between the parties to be larger than 19,000 votes.
The party's statisticians have indicated they're projecting a 20,671 vote gap.
PN now projecting 21,000-vote gap
5.40pm The Electoral Commission says it will have official results out at around 8pm.
In the meantime, we have rely on PN and PL projections.
The PN is currently projecting a 7-point gap between parties, translating to just over 21,000 votes.
Labour has not made a nationwide projection, saying some districts are still too close to call.
Keith Azzopardi Tanti thanks his district
5.25pm Keith Azzopardi Tanti is a lock-in for a district 1 seat. The Labour MP says he worked hard to keep in contact with constituents throughout the legislature.
"I feel a deep sense of gratitude to constituents," he tells Daniel Ellul.
Darren Carabott: Good, but we need to do more
5pm Daren Carabott (PN) is leading the race for a District 1 seat. Daniel Ellul sought his reaction, but Carabott said he preferred to focus on the party's overall result.
"A loss is a loss, we're still not happy. But it's good to see the party united and came together in just seven months," he says.
PN's star candidates
4.53pm Borg Manche is virtually guaranteed a seat in parliament. Two other PN star candidates might find it a bit tougher.
George Vital Zammit, who was also unveiled as a candidate late in day, faces an uphill struggle on the 6th district, as Julian Borg is comfortably in second place there. His chances on the 12th largely depend on where Alex Borg’s votes land on the second count.
Ray Gatt, an orthopaedic surgeon who fronted the PN’s new hospitals pledge, is currently third in the 3rd district, behind Stephen Spiteri and Janice Abela Chetcuti. The district usually only elects 1 PN MP.
And he’s currently in 8th place in the 10th district, well behind the pack leaders.
Borg Manche: 'I can't believe it'
4.40pm Conrad Bong Manche was unveiled as a PN candidate right in the midst of the electoral campaign. Despite the short campaign, he's flying - he's leading on the 10th district and doing well on the 5th, too.
"To be honest, I can't believe it," he told Daniel Ellul.
ADPD and Momentum neck-and-neck
4.30pm With around 65% of all votes nationwide accounted for, Labour calculations have ADPD and Momentum practically equal when it comes to first preference votes. ADPD have 1.4% and Momentum slightly more, at 1.5%.
Aħwa Maltin at 0.6%. As for Imperium Europa, they've garnered just 80 votes nationwide so far, Labour estimates - that's fewer than went to independent candidates.
Who's leading in each district?
4.10pm The vote checking process is ongoing in Naxxar. Here are the respective party leaders in each district so far.
District 1 - 52% adjudicated Labour: Keith Azzopardi Tanti PN: Darren Carabott
District 2 - 44% adjudicated Labour: Robert Abela PN: Stephen Spiteri
District 3 – 44% adjudicated Labour: Chris Fearne PN: Stephen Spiteri
District 4 Labour: Chris Fearne and Byron Camilleri are neck-and-neck PN: Mark Anthony Sammut
District 5 – 57% adjudicated Labour: Robert Abela PN: Toni Bezzina, Stanley Zammit, Conrad Borg Manche neck-and-neck
District 6 – 58% adjudicated Labour: Ian Borg PN: Jerome Caruana Cilia
District 7 - 74% adjudicated Labour: Ian Borg PN: Adrian Delia
District 8 – 64% adjudicated Labour: Clyde Caruana PN: Adrian Delia
District 9 – 49% adjudicated Labour: Clifton Grima PN: Joe Giglio
District 10 – 44% adjudicated Labour: Michael Falzon PN: Conrad Borg Manche
District 11 – 75% adjudicated Labour: Miriam Dalli PN: Ivan Bartolo
District 12 – 48% adjudicatedLabour: Jonathan Attard PN: Alex Borg
District 13 – 57% adjudicatedLabour: Clint Camilleri PN: Alex Borg
Robert Abela at Labour HQ
3.55pm The Labour leader addresses supporters gathered outside party headquarters.
He says the government will now work to implement its electoral manifesto. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work together,” he says.
A sea of red at Mile End
3.32pm Meanwhile, Labour celebrations are in full force at Mile End. Here’s a clip the party has shared, taken from its headquarters.
Reminder: Robert Abela is due to appear there any minute now.
Alex Borg: PN has gained in every district
3.20pm Alex Borg gives remarks to the media.
He says the PN has gained votes in every district and most likely has won back Gozo (District 13).
“Now we have a clear indication of why the election was called ahead of time: a 40k majority has been reduced drastically," he says.
He also indicates he has no intention of resigning.
"Now we will hold the government accountable to the electoral programme it was elected on," he says.
Alex Borg at the counting hall
3pm PN leader Alex Borg is at the Naxxar counting hall, thanking party agents as he makes his way through it. He's accompanied by deputy leader Alex Perici Calascione and is greeted by various candidates.
There are lots of hugs, but it's a much quieter affair than the boisterous reception Abela got, as is to be expected.
Alex Borg is greeted by PN agents at the Naxxar counting hall. Photo: Chris Sant FournierWill PN gain a seat in District 4?
2.45pm Our counting hall guys tell me there's a good chance district 4 ends up 3-2 for Labour, instead of the 4-1 majority it has enjoyed there since 2008.
Unions, lobbies congratulate Labour
2.40pm The General Workers Union, Forum Unions Maltin and Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association have all issued separate statements congratulating Labour on their victory and pledging to work with the new government.
PN sources: Gap could fall to 13,000
2.32pm A PN source tells us that according to current estimates, the gap between PL and PN could be down to around four per cent. If that is confirmed, the gap would shrink to 13,000 to 15,000 votes.
It's still total silence from the Labour side.
False alarm at counting hall
2.30pm Journalists at the canteen and entrance of the Naxxar counting hall were momentarily ordered to leave due to concerns about a potential gas leak.
They were allowed back in after a CPD check.
Abela at Labour HQ at 3pm
2.25pm Robert Abela is expected to make an appearance at Labour HQ at 3pm, we're told.
Labour supporters are also being encouraged to turn up at the Floriana Granaries at 6.30pm tonight.
Labour supporters celebrate in Ħamrun. Photo: Matthew MirabelliCandidates in Gozo
2.08pm Earlier, we reported that the overall vote in district 13 is neck-and-neck. That's still the case - the last we heard, there was just 100 votes in it.
As for the candidate race: PN leader Alex Borg appears to have received almost twice as many first count votes as Clint Camilleri (PL). The two other Gozitan cabinet members, Anton Refalo and Jo Etienne Abela are jostling for Labour’s second seat, with all other PL candidates seemingly out of the race.
Meanwhile, Frank Anthony Tabone is currently leading Beppe Galea and Luke Said on the PN front, but everything could change once Borg’s extra votes are inherited.
Analysis: A win for Labour, hope for PN
2pm Our online deputy editor Chris Scicluna has covered more elections than anyone else in our newsroom.
Here's his take on what today's electoral outcome means for the two parties.
Robert Abela's victory lap
1.43pm Abela did the victor's customary tour of the Naxxar counting hall, greeting supporters to the chants and bangs of others. Party deputy leaders Ian Borg and Alex Agius Saliba were there, too, as was his chief of staff Mark Mallia.
Robert Abela flanked by his two deputy leaders in a cramped Naxxar counting hall. Photo: Matthew MirabelliDistrict 8
1.40pm Clyde Caruana (PL) and his calculator may have had the upper hand throughout the campaign, but the finance minister is trailing counterpart Adrian Delia (PN) by a good distance in district 8. Nevertheless, both look set to easily secure a seat.
Labour newcomer John Grech has also performed well, while Beppe Fenech Adami, Justin Schembri, Julie Zahra and Ivan Castillo all receiving similar tallies for PN.
District 7
1.37pm Ian Borg (PL) and Adrian Delia (PN) both hold comfortable leads in district 7, well ahead of all other candidates.
For Labour, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea is slightly ahead of both Julia Farrugia and Silvio Schembri, while Omar Rababah appears to be performing poorly.
Ian Vassallo and Rebekah Borg will likely battle for PN’s second seat in the district, with Charles Azzopardi on their trail.
Road enforcement on pause
1.35pm Labour celebrations are in full flow. Hopefully, nobody will end up hurt: some people are taking it a bit too far, as these photos taken on Marsa's Aldo Moro road show.
A Labour supporter sits on the bonnet of a moving car on Marsa's busy Aldo Moro road. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Flags, waves and no safety. Photo: Matthew MirabelliDistrict 12
1.30pm Alex Borg has hoovered up almost every PN vote in district 12, with the party leader currently miles ahead of Ivan Castillo and Graziella Galea.
Things are more even on the Labour front, with Jonathan Attard holding a slight lead over Alicia Bugeja Said and Franco Mercieca. Newcomer Carlos Zarb will also be encouraged by his tally, but PL whip Naomi Cachia appears to be struggling in the district.
District 9
1.25pm Clifton Grima is ahead of all other candidates here, ahead of his Labour colleague Michael Falzon and the PN’s Joe Giglio.
Alex Perici Calascione, Eve Borg Bonello and Beppe Fenech Adami (all PN) follow, with Rebecca Buttigieg (PL) behind them.
District 2
1.20pm Robert Abela was always set to eclipse all others in district 2, and early indications suggest that he secured the overwhelming majority of Labour’s first-count votes. Clyde Caruana is in second place for Labour, marginally ahead of Glenn Bedingfield and Alison Zerafa Civelli.
Likewise, Stephen Spiteri is the runaway leader for PN, with Bernice Bonello a distant second.
Robert Abela in the counting hall
1.15pm Robert Abela is greeted with applause and cheers at the counting hall. He's accompanied by his wife Lydia.
"I'm very proud that we've made history," he says. "We have a strong mandate to implement our electoral manifesto."
District 3
1.13pm Chris Fearne is the clear frontrunner here, with PN MP Stephen Spiteri in second place. Chris Bonett, Owen Bonnici and Carmelo Abela (all PL) appear set to scrap for inherited votes, with all three receiving a similar tally of first-count votes.
Janice Abela Chetcuti and newcomer Ray Gatt are currently in second and third place for PN.
District 6
1.08pm Jerome Caruana Cilia (PN) is in the lead here, with Ian Borg (PL) trailing closely behind. Silvio Schembri and Rosianne Cutajar are also performing well.
District 5
1.05pm Robert Abela is, unsurprisingly, the runaway leader in district 5. Omar Farrugia is ahead of three cabinet ministers in Miriam Dalli, Owen Bonnici and Julia Farrugia, but much could change once Abela’s votes are inherited.
On the PN front, Stanley Zammit, Toni Bezzina and Conrad Borg Manché are all neck-and-neck.
Borg Manche' leads on 10th
1pm In District 10, a PN stronghold, it is Conrad Borg Manche who leads the pack.
The former Gżira mayor has more first-count votes than anyone else. His colleagues Joe Giglio and Mark Anthony Sammut are also doing well.
Michael Falzon leads for Labour, followed by Clifton Grima.
Neck-and-neck in Gozo
1pm A couple of news aggregator sites have said the PN has won Gozo (District 13). But our party sources, both PN and PL, say it's an incredibly tight race.
PN is currently at 50% to Labour's 49%.
Malta Chamber congratulates Labour
12.55pm The Malta Chamber is the first lobby group to react to Labour's electoral victory.
"The Malta Chamber is committed to continue working in the areas that improve the business landscape, particularly improving quality, excellence and standards across all areas and sectors," it says.
The Chamber says it is committed to working with the government, Opposition "and all politicians who have the interest of the country at heart."
It reiterates its belief in proposals it made in its LEAD policy document, saying they are "crucial".
District 11
12.45pm Over to District 11.
Labour: Miriam Dalli leads the pack, our sources tell us, ahead of her party colleagues Alex Muscat and Anthony Agius Decelis.
PN: Bernard Grech and Ivan Bartolo are leading, with Rebekah Borg right behind them.
A District 4 race
12.35pm In District 4, we're told Byron Camilleri (PL) and Chris Fearne (PL) are neck-and-neck, with Jonathan Attard (PL) in third and Chris Bonett (PL) just behind.
On the PN side, Mark Anthony Sammut appears to be well-placed.
It's still too close to know whether the district will lean 4-1 Labour's way (as it did in 2022) or end up 3-2.
Over in District 1
12.30pm We've spoken to party sources.
PN's Darren Carabott is absolutely dominating the district. And Labour's Keith Azzopardi Tanti is also on track to be elected comfortably on the first count.
Carcades in Ħamrun
12.23pm We've got motorbikes, hatchbacks and bangers: Labour supporters are congregating in Ħamrun, and many are driving interesting PL-themed vehicles.
An interesting numberplate. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A Labour-themed motorbike. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Labour supporters heading to Ħamrun. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Alex Borg: The people have spoken
12.10pm In his first public comments, PN leader Alex Borg said he had called Robert Abela to concede defeat and wish him well.
"The people have spoken, and we must respect their wishes," he said. "I know many people will be disappointed, but nobody should ever regret having voted for change."
"It's not the result we wanted, but it's a very clear message. We will keep working to be a strong alternative for the country."
Knives out by Franco Debono
12.05pm Lawyer and former PN MP Franco Debono is putting the party’s general secretary Charles Bonello under the spotlight.
“A protagonist in the PN’s four electoral defeats tells you that he’s reduced the gap. Is it any consolation to say the gap has been reduced in a fourth defeat?”
“The important thing is that his daughter did not have much competition in her district – just four candidates,” Debono writes.
That’s a reference to Bernice Bonello, who contested the second district.
Alex Agius Saliba: Now we need to work
12pm Labour deputy leader Alex Agius Saliba says the party has shown it remains thirsty for success. But again, no mention of what they expect the gap to be.
"Now we need to turn the trust into hard work for Robert Abela," he tells TVM.
Candidate reactions trickling in
11.50am Candidates from either side are sharing their first reactions.
Labour's Owen Bonnici evokes that iconic image of Karm Mifsud Bonnici holding up four fingers, celebrating near a statue of the late former PM.
"We did it, Dr Karm," he says.
And over on the PN side, candidate Rebekah Borg makes it clear she's proud of her party leader.
"We remain behind you, Alex Borg," she writes. "In a very short time you did what few thought could be done."
Victory for one side, success for the other?
11.44am We have an official victor, but if the PN’s 18k calculation proves correct, both parties are likely to call it a successful campaign.
Labour has won a fourth consecutive term, something that’s never been done before. As for the PN, an 18k gap would mean it has more than halved the record loss it registered in 2022.
Keep in mind: Labour has not yet given its projections for the gap between parties and we still do not have any official figures in hand.
Abela: 'We made history'
11.37am “We’ve made history by winning a fourth consecutive victory,” Robert Abela says in a brief phone call on TVM.
“Let’s remain united as a single people. I will lead as prime minister of all citizens.”
Robert Abela to speak on TVM
11.35am We're told Labour leader Robert Abela will speak to the national broadcaster in a few minutes' time.
Michael Falzon coy on gap
11.30am Labour's Michael Falzon says it's clear Labour won but remains coy when asked about the gap.
"It's a considerable margin," he says without elaborating.
Calculator celebrations
11.24am Roars of celebration in the Naxxar counting hall: chants of viva l-Labour and Robert tagħna l-Mexxej.
And Clyde Caruana is being carried on agents’ shoulders while holding a calculator – the prop of the 2026 campaign.
Labour celebrates
11.17am Labour Party agents have started celebrating: the party has started celebrating its fourth consecutive general election victory.
PN has said it expects to have lost by 18,000 votes. Labour has not said what it expects the gap to be.
But one thing is certain: Labour have won it again.
PN conceding defeat
11.15am PN general secretary Charles Bonello says it looks Labour has won "by around 18,000 votes."
Red smiles around district 2
11.07am Labour Party agents and candidates are gathering around the district 2 perspex.
There are lots of smiles and some hugs - some agents are on the cusp of celebrating. But party administration is telling them to keep at their job.
Labour: 'It's still too early'
10.58am At exactly this time in 2022, Robert Abela had declared victory.
But they're holding their fire this time round. OPM head of communications Edward Montebello has told journalists it's too early to call.
"Ignore online speculation," he said.
People near Labour HQ, banners down for PN
10.46am Labour supporters are gathering outside their party's Mile End headquarters.
Meanwhile just down the road at PN headquarters, officials have removed a massive banner of party leader Alex Borg. Some PN supporters have also gathered at a bar near their party HQ.
Labour supporters near party HQ; a banner is removed at PN headquarters.
PN supporters near party HQ. Photo: Antoine Farrugia LauriCaution around projections
10.43am Earlier, we explained how the vote counting process has changed. Electoral agents no longer sample 50 votes from each ballot box.
This lack of samples is causing projections to fluctuate every 15 minutes, sources from both major parties are telling us. It already happened in the 2024 MEP elections, when the projections would veer from 4,000 to 20,000 in 30mins. Every box skews projections, sometimes wildly.
Agents from both parties are being cautious and quiet.
Party clubs
10.35am Labour's party club in Naxxar is full, a resident tells us.
"They've got big screens focused on the counting hall, like it's a football match," the resident said.
Another in Żebbuġ tells us they spotted people wearing "Int Malta" t-shirts posing for selfies and walking to Labour's club in the village.
Byron Camilleri at the counting hall. Photo: Matthew MirabelliA bipartisan couple
10.15am Chayenne Riolo works for PN-owned Net News. Her boyfriend Dylan works for Labour-owned ONE.
"Love above everything," Riolo wrote as she shared a photo of the couple on social media.
Photo: Chayenne Riolo/InstagramPredictions trickle in
10am Sources in the two main parties are telling us that the samples collected so far show Labour on course to win the election, as opinion polls predicted.
But the margins vary widely. We were told by the parties: "It's still early, treat any figures with caution."
Tensions on district 3
9.45am The temperature is rising in the district 3 section of the counting hall: an argument between party representatives over a dubious vote has required the police to intervene.
Officers escort a party agent away as they try to restore order and calm.
But there's lots of yelling, sweat and spittle flying around. Commission officials have warned party agents that the process won’t continue unless they cut it out.
Like a Paceville back alley
9.40am Party agents jot down votes, then hand those slips of paper to runners who rush them to their respective party's offices at the counting hall.
It looks furtive and dodgy, but it's democracy in action, folks.
Party agents hand their notes to runners. Photo: Matthew MirabelliCandidates' nerves
9.38am Electoral candidates are all across the counting hall, lined up behind party agents at the perspex where their respective district votes are being sorted.
Clyde Caruana watches from behind the perspex. Photo: Mark Laurence ZammitThe challenge of sampling
9.30am Electronic vote counting has sped up the process, but it has also made this initial process trickier.
It used to be easier to sample votes during the preliminary phase, because officials would initially take samples of 50 votes from each ballot box. That allowed officials to quickly get an accurate picture of the district.
Now, with electronic scanning, each box is opened sequentially, one vote at a time. That means predicting where a district is going - particularly on a candidate level - is much harder.
And it begins
9.06am Everyone is glued to the perspex: the process has started. Party agents (blue lanyards for PN agents, red ones for Labour) get scribbling with their pencils as electoral agents hold up ballot sheets one at a time.
Mark Laurence Zammit explains
8.54am We've also got Mark Laurence Zammit at the Naxxar counting hall.
He walks us through what to expect throughout the morning.
Finally, a shared calculator
8.50am Clyde Caruana and Adrian Delia spent the entire campaign trading barbs about the other's "calculator". Looks like they've found one they can agree on.
Tight security
8.45am Daniel Ellul is at the Naxxar counting hall.
"Security is tight," he tells me. "AFM soldiers are stationed on the perimeter of the Naxxar building and you need a pass to be allowed inside. I went through an airport-like security check to enter the building and another to enter the counting hall."
Understanding the vote-counting process
8.35am Step 1: Votes are removed from ballot boxes, turned face up and examined. Dubious/questionable votes are set aside.
At this stage, party officials quickly note down where each vote falls. Those samples are then used by parties to extrapolate the big picture result.
If one party has clearly won, it becomes clear at this stage and celebrations begin (as we’ve seen in 2013, 2017 and 2022). If it’s close, then tensions will remain high. In 2008, Labour activists had rushed out to celebrate, convinced they had won, when in reality they lost by just over 1,500 votes.
Step 2: Votes are scanned electronically. The scanners create a digital image of each vote. Computer software then reads the 1s, 2s, 3s etc on each vote and tallies them up. Dubious votes are flagged to officials for human verification.
If it was too close to call following step 1, you can expect a party to declare victory following this stage.
You'll also see individual candidates looking elated or dejected at this point, as their fates become clear.
Step 3: Electoral officials assess dubious votes. When they cannot agree, the vote is referred to the electoral commission for a final decision.
People enter the Naxxar counting hall. Photo: Matthew MirabelliThe Times view on this campaign
8.20am Everyone has heaped praise on party leaders for running a positive campaign, free of much of the mud-slinging we've seen in the past.
We share that view, but we also feel there were a few issues Robert Abela and Alex Borg very evidently avoided discussing throughout the campaign.
"Malta is part of a global economy increasingly exposed to geopolitical instability, wars, trade disputes and economic uncertainty," we write in today's editorial. "The assumption that growth will continue indefinitely, regardless of external events, is dangerous."
Read the full Sunday Times of Malta editorial here.
Preparations in Naxxar
8.10am We're an hour away from the start of proceedings at the Naxxar counting hall. Electoral agents are setting up but it's a quiet, calm affair. Our photographer Matthew Mirabelli captured a few of those scenes.
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
No banging, for now. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Police officers stationed at the Naxxar counting hall. Photo: Matthew MirabelliThe boycott that never was
7.55am I've been sent a video of Paul Salomone (leader of the Aħwa Maltin party) accusing us of boycotting the party, because we did not publish a photo of him voting.
The reality is much simpler: Aħwa Maltin did not inform us when or where Salomone was voting, and did not send any photos of him voting, either.
Other parties did.
Malta's election fever
7.50am We love our elections here in Malta. We love them more than pretty much every other country, in reality.
I took a look at turnout figures for Europe's 10 most recent elections (9 parliamentary, one presidential). And wouldn't you know, Malta emerges top.
An early start for counting agents
7.40am It will be a long day for electoral agents at the Naxxar counting hall, and it's already started. The actual conciliation, sorting and counting processes will only begin at 9am, though.
Turnout and burnt fingers
7.25am Turnout figures issued by the Electoral Commission late yesterday [kudos to them for getting the figures out an hour faster than they did in 2022, by the way] confirmed what our pre-electoral poll predicted: more people voting this time round.
Turnout was especially high in District 7 - a bellwether district, as Neville Borg noted in our article about the turnout numbers.
But it's hard to draw any inferences from these numbers. As one party official told me yesterday, "I've had my fingers burnt a few times trying to interpret the turnout while boxes are still sealed."
Welcome
7.20am Good morning, and welcome to this live blog. We'll be with you throughout the day to give you accurate, up-to-date information on the outcome of the 2026 general election.