The Nationalists won a third term by the skin of their teeth. A new Labour Party leader promised to shake his party to the core and a fireworks blast shook Naxxar and claimed two lives. The euro became Malta's official currency and the public transport drivers managed to alienate everybody through an ill-advised strike. Herman Grech takes a look at those who will be toasting a good year and eight others who can only hope for a reversal of fortunes.

Good Year

Joseph Muscat
The young MEP beat off stiff competition to become Labour's new leader, aged 34. Six months into the job, armed with a good dosage of charm, he has promised a veritable earthquake within his party, edging himself closer to the moderates in the process.

Nicholas Sammut
The unknown research engineer made front-page news for his contribution to the world's biggest-ever scientific experiment in Geneva last October. Recently he was appointed executive chairman for the Malta Council for Science and Technology. He is just 27 years old.

Kevin Borg
The young singer went from wannabe Maltese Eurovision star to Sweden's darling after he won the hotly-contested Swedish Idol earlier this month, securing a Sony contract in the process. He is now topping the Swedish singles charts.

Astrid Vella
The Sliema environmentalist crowned a year of incessant campaigning with the European Special Jury Prize for her voluntary work carried out through her NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar. She also won the Volunteer of the Year award.

Aaron Ciantar
He might be competing in a non-mainstream sport but Ciantar was the darling of Maltese sports in 2008 when he became the Powerboat P1 Supersport world champion. Surprisingly, the Malta Olympic Commitee failed to nominate him for the yearly Sports Awards.

Lawrence Gonzi
Against the odds, the Nationalist leader single-handedly steered his party to another victory thanks to his convincing, optimistic talk and charisma. The Nationalist administration was wise to morph the party into 'Gonzipn' for the electoral campaign.

Winter Moods
The veterans of local rock music etched their name in Malta's rock almanac, winning two awards, including Malta's best band at the recent Malta Music Awards - a few months after showing that local bands can also sell out big venues.

Joseph Calleja
The Maltese tenor is singing his way to the top, jet-setting around the globe receiving one accolade after another. A grand production beckons at the Metropolitan in New York in 2009, as well as Calleja's return to Malta in July.

Bad Year

Car importers
Importers saw sales plummet as drivers waited for the revision of the car registration tax - and when the new complicated rates were announced they were none the wiser. As car makers face an uncertain future in the wake of the international crisis, 2009 does not look any better.

Lino Farrugia
The secretary of the hunters' federation lost his battle to retain spring hunting and in the process landed himself in trouble with the law. Trapping should also be banned at the end of the year and the federation's members are not happy.

Michael Mifsud
The Maltese 'mosquito's' frequent exclusion from the Coventry City starting line-up after a botched moved to Bristol and his failure to regain his scoring touch has somewhat put a damper on Malta's greatest sporting export.

Banks
Though the conservative lending attitudes meant local banks spared themselves the major impact of the global financial crisis, the 'untouchable' banks have seen profits and shares dwindle after several years of success.

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando
Revered as one of the Nationalist's brightest sparks, thanks especially to his green credentials, the young dentist found himself embroiled in the Mistra controversy on the eve of the election, which probably cost him a ministerial post.

Alfred Sant
While undergoing cancer treatment, he had to go through a delicate and uncomfortable election campaign, before bowing out of the top Labour Party post following a third successive defeat at the polls.

Marsaxlokk
The fishing village went silent last July after three fishermen died and a child went missing in the Simshar tragedy. The feast was cancelled as a sign of respect and to wrap up its annus horribilis, the lampuki season turned out to be abysmal.

Bus and taxi drivers
In two days they wreaked havoc in the streets to protest against liberalisation, but their thuggery only served to exacerbate the process and create a chorus of disapproval from an entire nation.