There is growing speculation across political and business circles that Prime Minister Robert Abela may be considering calling an early general election, potentially in the first half of 2026 – and possibly as early as March – well ahead of the legislature’s scheduled end.

While Government sources insist that no decision has been taken and that it ultimately remains the Prime Minister’s prerogative, several individuals close to both Government and Opposition told WhosWho.mt that speculation about timing has quietly intensified within both camps.

A political source said that the impact of Alex Borg’s election as Leader of the Opposition, as well as the outcome of the upcoming Budget, will likely be determining factors.

If there is a sense that Dr Borg is narrowing the gap despite what is expected to be a very generous Budget, that could be enough for the Prime Minister to sacrifice the remainder of the third legislature in a bid to secure a historic fourth consecutive mandate.

Leader of the Opposition Alex Borg

Activity and momentum within both parties have also intensified. Within Government ranks, expectations are high for the upcoming Budget and its potential impact on public opinion. Officials are describing this month’s Budget as “one of the best ever” for the people and are hopeful it will boost the Government’s standing in the polls.

Ironically, an early election will become more likely if the Nationalist Party’s performance in the polls improves. Should surveys show the PN making inroads under Dr Borg’s new leadership, Government strategists may prefer to advise the Prime Minister to strike before the Opposition’s momentum builds further.

The next general election will be the second contested by Robert Abela as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. He first led the Labour Party to victory in March 2022, securing a strong third consecutive term for Labour.

Prime Minister Robert Abela

Since 2013, the Labour Party has been in power for three legislatures – first under Joseph Muscat and later under Dr Abela.

If Labour were to win the next election, it would mark a historic fourth consecutive mandate. In recent history, no political party has managed more than three consecutive wins. While the Nationalist Party was in office for almost 24 years between 1987 and 2013, Labour did win a general election in 1996 – a legislature that lasted only 18 months before the PN returned to power in 1998.

According to last Sunday’s MaltaToday’s October 2025 survey, the Labour Party stands at 48.8 per cent, the PN at 45.9 per cent, with ADPD, Momentum and others sharing the remainder. Based on the estimated turnout, the MaltaToday poll is predicting a Labour victory by 8,000+ votes.

Meanwhile, a survey by leading pollster Vincent Marmarà, also published last week, indicates Labour ahead with 51.7 per cent versus 43.2 per cent for the PN – translating into a lead of roughly 25,000 votes.