Guessing game starts on election date

With the referendum date set for March 8, speculation has now turned to the election date, with various theories being advanced on the factors that will lead the prime minister to take his decision.

Would he dissolve parliament even while the referendum campaign is still on and hold the election soon after, or would he await the referendum outcome first?

Sources said Dr Fenech Adami may decide to hold the election as early as on April 12, just over a month after the referendum and a few days before the EU accession treaty is due to be signed in Greece. That would also be one week before Easter, meaning Holy Week activities would not clash with the electoral campaign.

In terms of the law, a period of just under five weeks has to be allowed between the dissolution of the House and the holding of the elections, provided the writ is signed on the day of the dissolution.

Another possibility is for the prime minister to announce the general election immediately after the signing of the accession treaty and after Easter, meaning it would be held at the end of May.

The sources indicated that the prime minister himself had not taken any decision yet: "There is the dilemma of whether it is worth taking the risk of calling the election before the outcome of the referendum is known. What will happen if the referendum is lost and the prime minister would have already announced the election date for April?"

The current legislature may, at the very latest, continue until January 24 but Dr Fenech Adami has already indicated he would prefer to call the election much sooner.