Robert Abela rules out early election
Prime Minister dismisses rumours of March election as 'fictitious'
Robert Abela has all but ruled out calling an early election.
In an interview with Times of Malta, the prime minister said he still has unfinished business to tackle before calling an election.
“We have a five-year mandate. The election will be called when it is in the national interest. If you are putting the question to me today, I would say the national interest does not necessitate an early election. Christmas is approaching, and I want people to enjoy it with their families”.
The prime minister said the government is focused on seeing through the 1,000 electoral pledges made in Labour’s 2022 manifesto.
Rumours have mounted in recent weeks that Abela is mulling a March 2026 election, one year ahead of his five-year term.
But questioned during an in-depth interview on Friday, Abela said he is taking a personal interest in the implementation of certain projects, which are an absolute priority.
These include the building of a new emergency and psychiatric ward at Mater Dei, the Ħal Far race track and the Manoel Island and White Rocks conversion into national parks.
“There is still a lot of work to be done. My job and focus is on that, not on fictitious election dates."
Hammering the point home, Abela said last month’s budget will not be the last of this legislature.
“There will be another budget, and it will be even better than the last one,” Abela said.
The rumours of an early election gathered pace as polls showed the Nationalist Party bridging the gap with Labour after Alex Borg's election, though Robert Abela's party remains firmly ahead.