General election announced for 26 March

11:45 — Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that he will be asking the president to dissolve parliament on Sunday afternoon.

The general election is set to take place on Saturday 26 March, and it is understood that Abela had no other choice than calling for an election to take place before Pope Francis’ visit to Malta on 2 and 3 April.

The Holy See had reportedly expressed its strong objection to scheduling a visit during an election campaign, which in fact had already kicked off in January.

Another reason for calling an election on 26 March is the Labour Party’s shrinking lead over the Nationalist Party in recent surveys, Labour sources suggest.

During a party event in Floriana on Sunday, Robert Abela said “The future is bright, because we’re strong in the present”.

He said that Labour has “strengthened democracy” and created “strong systems” that will prevail for generations.

The Labour Party’s election campaign slogan is ‘Malta flimkien’ (Malta together).

Grech: ‘We are underdogs but will convince people’

12:30 — Opposition leader Bernard Grech reacted to the election announcement, saying that Nationalists were still the underdogs but would convince the people.

Grech pointed out the nepotism and cronyism surrounding Labour, saying “everyone has the right to success through working hard, and not because one’s affiliation with a political party”.

He addressed PN supporters in a Nationalist Party event in his hometown Mosta, moments after Robert Abela announced the election date.

The Nationalist Party’s slogan for this election campaign is ‘Miegħek. Għal Malta’ (With you. For Malta).

President asked to dissolve parliament

13:30 — Shortly after his election announcement, the Prime Minister said on Facebook he has officially advised President George Vella to dissolve the parliament.

Mass meetings in Pietà and Qormi

14:00 — The Nationalist Party has told its supporters to attend a mass meeting in front of PN headquarters in Pietà on Sunday at 7pm.

The Labour Party announced that its first mass meeting will be held in Robert Abela’s hometown Qormi on Monday evening.