Updated: Country's political leaders vote as Malta goes to the polls<\/p>\n
The country’s leaders have cast their vote, as Malta went to the polls on Saturday to elect a new government.<\/p>\n
Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg was the first political leader to cast his vote just after 9am in Munxar, Gozo, where he was accompanied by European Parliament President and PN MEP Roberta Metsola.<\/p>\n
In a short comment to the media after he voted, Borg appealed to everyone to exercise their right to vote and urged people to “go out and vote for a fresh breath for our country.”<\/p>\n
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Prime Minister Robert Abela meanwhile cast his vote at around 10am in Zejtun. He was accompanied by his wife Lydia Abela, who also cast her vote.<\/p>\n
In a brief comment outside his polling station, Abela said that today is an important day for the country and for everyone who has contributed to it. “You have an important key with which you need to choose the leadership of this country or the next five years,” Abela said.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister said that it is crucial for everyone to vote early so that country can keep moving forward.<\/p>\n
Momentum chairperson Arnold Cassola cast his vote at around 11am in Pembroke. In a short video together with Momentum Secretary General Mark Camilleri Gambin, Cassola encouraged people to go out and vote.<\/p>\n
“Follow your conscience. Your conscience will tell you what is best for Malta,” he said as he encouraged people to “do their duty” for the country and for future generations. <\/p>\n
President of the Republic Myriam Spiteri Debono cast her vote at 12pm in Birkirkara.<\/p>\n
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ADPD leader Sandra Gauci cast her vote at around 12:15pm in Qawra.<\/p>\n
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Polls opened at 7am on Saturday and will remain open until 10pm at 163 polling stations across Malta and Gozo.<\/p>\n
Voters have 162 candidates split across 13 districts to choose from. 72 candidates are under the Labour Party’s banner, 65 are under the Nationalist Party banner, 8 are contesting for ADPD, 7 for Aħwa Maltin, another 7 for Momentum, and a solo candidate for Imperium Europa. There are then two independent candidates.<\/p>\n
Some eligible voters, however, will not be able to cast their vote on Saturday. Figures issued on Friday<\/strong><\/a> show that a total of 15,312 voting documents have gone uncollected, which is equivalent to 4.29% of the electorate.<\/p>\n The percentage is a slight increase over the same statistic in the 2022 general election. Back then, 14,473 voting documents were not collected – equivalent to 4.07%.<\/p>\n