News • 02 March 2003

12 April likely E-Day for Malta

All indications are pointing to April 12 as the date for the general elections. If, as is expected, the ‘yes’ vote exceeds the ‘no’ at the referendum on Saturday. expect Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami to call immediate elections.

The earliest elections can be called is 12 April and, riding on the crest of a wave, the Prime Minister will not want to wait any longer.

It is also believed that a postponement of E-day would be detrimental to the PN’s chances of winning the next election. It could give the MLP a chance to change its position on Europe, perhaps even its leadership. A possible scenario that worries many PN insiders.

Suggestions that the election could be held two weeks after the referendum do not hold water as the Prime Minister must dissolve parliament 33 days before an election. 12 April falls 33 days from the Monday following the referendum.

Speculation that the EU is pushing Fenech Adami to call an election immediately after the referendum result is known, could not be confirmed. However, it is generally believed that should the referendum go the ‘yes’ way, with whatever margin, it would not pay the government to dilly-dally before calling the election.

On 16 April Fenech Adami is expected to go to Athens to sign the accession treaty with the EU and it is believed that holding elections just before such an important event could help swing more Nationalist votes.

It has also been suggested the government would be cleverer to wait until after 16 April since, psychologically, people might be less inclined to take Malta out of an agreement, than stop it signing one.

That line of argument has some attraction, but given that Maltese elections are such close cut affairs, and considering that the result is not a forgone conclusion, it is expected the Prime Minister will try to cut his losses and bank on those wanting to join the EU, to vote for his party.