MPs recruiting helpers amid election speculation

Many of Malta’s electoral candidates are calling for “helpers” as rumours of an early election continue to grow.

Ministers, MPs and parliamentary hopefuls have all posted on their Facebook pages asking for “help” from their supporters.

Under Malta’s single transferable vote system, five MPs are elected from each of Malta’s 13 districts. Each of Malta’s two main parties usually fields significantly more candidates than that in each district.

That effectively means candidates from the same party become rivals, competing against one another for voters’ favour.

Canvassers, or as they are more frequently called in Malta, “helpers”, work to get the candidate they volunteer for elected, one vote at a time.

Times of Malta spoke to two seasoned politicians who explained what the role entails.

“Helpers can do a number of things. They pass flyers door to door, call the phone numbers we have in our database, and help organise coffee mornings and campaign events,” they said.

“Someone needs to set up the tables and chairs and distribute the tickets,” they added.

Helpers also play a critical role on election day.

“Many people call our office on the day saying they need transport to the voting booth. The helpers organise that service and drive people to the polls,” they said.

One MP said that having a large number of canvassers has significant value in itself.

“If someone is volunteering in your campaign, they will not only vote for you but will also get their family and friends to vote for you. It is also a surefire way to get a large attendance for your events as a show of force. That is important because people bring people.”

Earlier this month, Energy and Environment Minister Miriam Dalli released a video message on Facebook with her appeal.

“There is ongoing work on many projects, but at the same time I have made sure to remain in contact with you (the people), particularly the constituents of the fifth and 11th districts,” Dalli said.

“Since we are in the last year of the legislature, many have asked me how they can help my campaign. So all of you who want to give me a helping hand can contact me or my team,” she said.

Other cabinet members, including Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Keith Azzopardi Tanti and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Alicia Bugeja Said, have also made public calls for helpers, as has PL candidate Yana Borg Debono Grech.

PN politicians are no different.

Nationalist Party MP Darren Carabott asked for helpers on Thursday, saying: “I need your help so that together we can make a change. Do you want to be part of my team? We can work together for Malta and the Nationalist Party.”

Former opposition leader and current MP Adrian Delia has also asked people to “be part of my team”.

The rush for helpers comes amid growing anticipation of a snap election call in the coming weeks.

Times of Malta reported earlier in March that the Labour Party’s strategy team has been meeting regularly to prepare the party for the possibility of a snap election.

That speculation only rose when Prime Minister Robert Abela recently mentioned the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto, and when his office called on the entire cabinet to a press conference to announce that 82 per cent of the government’s current manifesto is complete. 

Last week, the PL revealed the first group of 17 candidates it will field for the election, including five new faces.