Labour is likely to lose its fourth MEP seat but will still win a substantial majority of votes in Saturday’s European elections, according to party predictions.
The two main parties are looking at a margin difference of around eight per cent, which will give Labour a lead of some 24,000 votes over the Nationalist Party. Labour won last year’s general election by a margin of 11.6 per cent, a majority of more than 35,000 votes.
The deficit between the two parties may go down further if pockets of disgruntled Labour hardcore supporters stick to their threats not to vote. At the same time, however, the PN fears a lower turnout among its usual voters due to apathy towards the party and politics in general.
Former prime minister Alfred Sant is almost a certainty for election, with former journalist Miriam Dalli likely to follow. There is then a race between incumbent Marlene Mizzi, Labour MP Deborah Schembri and former Labour journalist Charlon Gouder.
Incumbents, Roberta Metsola and David Casa are by far the most popular in the PN. Ray Bugeja and Therese Comodini Cachia appear to be the strongest of the other candidates, while former PBS journalist Norman Vella and veteran MP Francis Zammit Dimech would also put up a good challenge.
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