Politics in Malta is a ferociously tribal business. You’ve got the Labour Party (led by Joseph Muscat) on one side and the Nationalist Party (led by Lawrence Gonzi) on the other. Broadly speaking, the Labour Party is left of centre and definitely notpro-Europe (thanks commenters), while the Nationalist Party is more conservative and Christian. The Nationalists have been in power for nearly all of the last 25 years, interrupted only by a 2 year period from ’96 when the Labour gang got into office. However, this does not accurately reflect just how narrow the margins tend to be come election day. The last election was in 2008, when the Nationalists scraped in by a popular vote of 143,468 to 141, 888, numbers which give you an idea of how evenly divided the population is in terms of party loyalty. Voter turnout for that election was 93% – incredibly high by the standards of most countries, (the 2012 US election got a 57.5% turnout) – but in fact this was the lowest percentage of eligible voters to go to the polls here in Malta since 1971!
Another election is looming, and the rival parties have started taking pot-shots at each other in the form of giant roadside billboards. The common theme among these billboards – I’ve included a few snaps of them below – is that they invariably point out perceived weaknesses in their rivals, rather than highlighting any positive suggestions or policies of their own. However as it seems that party allegiance is something bestowed upon you at birth, a billboard campaign is unlikely to sway too many opinions either way.
Muscat – Same Old Faces
Muscat, Promises = New Taxes
PM Gonzi promised a Brazilian company was coming to Malta with 100’s of jobs – doesn’t seem to have happened
10 thoughts on “Politics in Malta – A Beginners Guide”
I find it quite amusing that you choose to classify the MLP as pro-Europe and left of centre when they spent a decade fiercely opposing EU membership and even withdrawing the membership application. Their latest stint in power also showed they were right of centre!
The lack of balance in your chosen billboards also speaks volumes about your lack of impartiality – at least admit you are an MLP supporter!
I stand corrected, and thanks for the correction. As for the ‘billboard bias’ accusation, well those were the ones I had a chance to take snaps of, but I will happily reproduce more from both sides of the divide. I am neither a voter nor a supporter, so have no allegiances either way.
By stating that the MLP are a pro-Europe party you reveal yourself as ignorant of Maltese politics and a beginner yourself. The MLP ferociously opposed EU entry and even withdrew Malta’s application. Get your facts right please!
Okay Robert, I’ve been told. But you are right to describe me as a beginner – there are layers upon layers related to politics on this island and I only attempted the merest scratch of the surface.
well obviously Robert, as a foreigner he doesn’t give a fuck about our politics. That doesn’t make him ignorant but rather but makes you ignorant the fact that you told him so. And obviously speaking of ignorants… the MLP is no longer anti-EU so please update yourself or ask Michael J Fox to continue the Back to the Future franchise 😉
Haha! You learned the hard way. First rule of being in Malta-never NEVER try and discuss politics. Don’t even MENTION politics! See what you’ve started? Poor bugger! 😉
The Maltese are literally insane when it comes to politics. I dare not even bother to learn about it, I’m far too ignorant and I certainly don’t need some Maltese keyboard warrior telling me that!
It’s nice to get another persons perspective and you clearly stated it was a beginners guide and therefore not full of indepth analysis! I enjoyed it! x
Pro-europe??? Euro-sceptics maybe… or more accurately “they’re against any nationalist party policy”. By the way… politics in Malta is not politics at all – it’s just an unknown ‘sport’ to the rest of the world where winning and losing is everything, with voters merely acting as die hard fans (waving flags, making arguments for their team… oops, sorry, party, etc.).
Well I believe he is more intelligent than the rest of you because he admitted that he is no ‘expert’ in politics as many Maltese think they are. It is not nice to call someone ignorant of politics when you’re the one who is fed with the lies both parties lure your mind with keeping you in a cage.. believing that you are free when in reality all that you represent is a vote- a number among many.
I find it quite amusing that you choose to classify the MLP as pro-Europe and left of centre when they spent a decade fiercely opposing EU membership and even withdrawing the membership application. Their latest stint in power also showed they were right of centre!
The lack of balance in your chosen billboards also speaks volumes about your lack of impartiality – at least admit you are an MLP supporter!
I stand corrected, and thanks for the correction. As for the ‘billboard bias’ accusation, well those were the ones I had a chance to take snaps of, but I will happily reproduce more from both sides of the divide. I am neither a voter nor a supporter, so have no allegiances either way.
By stating that the MLP are a pro-Europe party you reveal yourself as ignorant of Maltese politics and a beginner yourself. The MLP ferociously opposed EU entry and even withdrew Malta’s application. Get your facts right please!
Okay Robert, I’ve been told. But you are right to describe me as a beginner – there are layers upon layers related to politics on this island and I only attempted the merest scratch of the surface.
well obviously Robert, as a foreigner he doesn’t give a fuck about our politics. That doesn’t make him ignorant but rather but makes you ignorant the fact that you told him so. And obviously speaking of ignorants… the MLP is no longer anti-EU so please update yourself or ask Michael J Fox to continue the Back to the Future franchise 😉
Haha! You learned the hard way. First rule of being in Malta-never NEVER try and discuss politics. Don’t even MENTION politics! See what you’ve started?
Poor bugger! 😉
The Maltese are literally insane when it comes to politics. I dare not even bother to learn about it, I’m far too ignorant and I certainly don’t need some Maltese keyboard warrior telling me that!
It’s nice to get another persons perspective and you clearly stated it was a beginners guide and therefore not full of indepth analysis! I enjoyed it! x
Well said, oh Cool one!
Pro-europe??? Euro-sceptics maybe… or more accurately “they’re against any nationalist party policy”. By the way… politics in Malta is not politics at all – it’s just an unknown ‘sport’ to the rest of the world where winning and losing is everything, with voters merely acting as die hard fans (waving flags, making arguments for their team… oops, sorry, party, etc.).
Well I believe he is more intelligent than the rest of you because he admitted that he is no ‘expert’ in politics as many Maltese think they are.
It is not nice to call someone ignorant of politics when you’re the one who is fed with the lies both parties lure your mind with keeping you in a cage.. believing that you are free when in reality all that you represent is a vote- a number among many.