Over 10,800 Voters Back Smaller Parties In 2026 General Election

While Labour and the Nationalist Party once again dominated Malta’s general election, smaller parties and independent candidates collectively increased their share of the vote compared to 2022. Labour secured 158,444 votes, while the PN obtained 136,723. Beyond the two major parties, a total of 10,869 votes were cast for alternative parties and independent candidates, up from 9,308 in the 2022 election. Momentum emerged as the strongest of the smaller parties with 4,700 votes nationwide. ADPD followed with 3,996 votes, while Aħwa Maltin secured 1,845 votes. Imperium Europa obtained 167 votes and independent candidates received a combined 161 votes. Several candidates stood out on the district level. Momentum’s Arnold Cassola secured 795 votes in one district and 722 in another, among the highest first-count tallies achieved by any third-party candidate. His colleague Mark Camilleri Gambin obtained 539 votes and 440. Meanwhile, ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci recorded 513 votes in one district and 455 votes in District 6, making her one of the strongest-performing candidates outside Malta’s two-party system. Although the numbers remain small compared to the votes secured by Labour and the PN, the increase suggests that more voters are looking beyond the traditional two-party divide. Do you think smaller parties will continue to grow in future elections, or will Malta remain dominated by Labour and the PN? •