Abela called early elections in April, four years into his five-year term, amid fears that war in Iran and the ensuing economic shock could erode support for his government.
Alex Borg, leader of the opposition Nationalists Party, appeared to concede defeat on Sunday, saying the result was “not the result we wanted, but it’s a very clear message.”
Abel’s victory it was highly anticipatedwith polling ahead of Saturday’s vote showing his Labor Party on top. Still, Labour’s majority looked much smaller than its last victory in 2022, with around 18,000 votes separating the government and the opposition.
The election was fiercely fought and it brought surprise measures from Brussels, with EU Commissioner for Malta Glenn Micallef, who was Abela’s chief of staff, controversially endorsing the prime minister in a campaign speech, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola appearing at campaign centers with Borg.
