The forthcoming general election is the first for Lawrence Gonzi as leader of the Nationalist Party but he was party general secretary in 1998, when the PN was returned to power.

It is a stern test for the Prime Minister. The Nationalist Party has not yet won any sort of election under his leadership, losing the European Parliament elections soon after he took over from Eddie Fenech Adami in 2004 as well as losing all the local council elections held since.

But it is an even sterner test for MLP leader Alfred Sant. He won his first general election as party leader in 1996 but lost in 1998 and 2004. He also lost the 2003 EU referendum. Following the last election defeat he presented his resignation but reversed it after appeals from the party.

Eddie Fenech Adami had a bitter experience at his first general election as PN leader. The PN won a majority of votes but was consigned to the opposition after having failed to win a majority of seats in Parliament. He then went on to win the elections with absolute majorities in 1987, 1992, 1998 and 2004 as well as the EU referendum.

Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici lost his first general election as MLP leader, in 1987 and then lost again in 1992 and resigned.

Dom Mintoff had barely taken over the leadership of the MLP in 1950 after the 1949 split, and failed to make it to government after the 1950, 1951 and 1953 elections, which produced coalition governments headed by the PN, even though the MLP won most votes (but not an absolute majority) in 1951 and 1953. Mintoff became Prime Minister after the 1955 election and also won the elections of 1971 and 1976. In 1981 he formed a government after winning an absolute majority of parliamentary seats, though not of votes.

George Borg Olivier became Prime Minister following the sudden death of Nerik Mizzi in 1950 and won the 1950, 1951 and 1953 elections although he was only able to form coalition governments. He was able to form PN governments following the 1962 and 1966 elections but lost the electiosn of 1971 and 1976.