Election Playbook: After a bumpy start, it's kicking off

Galdes gives in: Despite having the upper hand at the start of the election campaign, the PL risked a public spat between its leadership and Roderick Galdes, who was barred from contesting the general election. The issue started when a secret PL executive vote slashed his re-election bid, after which he formally complained to the party, saying that one person who voted against him shouldn’t have had a vote in the first place. Galdes captured headlines in the first few days of the campaign, as his political future was unclear despite organising a coffee morning for supporters. But on Saturday, it seems that the issue had been resolved. As usual, Galdes blamed “partisan attacks” and the wish to shield his party’s work from being undermined as the reason for giving in. But don’t be sad, Roderick. Think of all the friends and memories you made at those coffee mornings. And if that’s not enough, I’m sure your decision to give in will be rewarded if the PL is re-elected.

Alex Borg's turnaround: Opposition Leader Alex Borg likewise didn’t have the smoothest start to this campaign. In a previous edition of our playbook (which I must remind you is satirical), we mocked Borg for avoiding the media on the second day of the campaign. But I must admit Borg’s behaviour improved later in the week as he started acting more like an Opposition Leader. The PN leader performed very well on Friday’s mass meeting in Lija, where he managed to work up a crowd of Nationalists better than Claudette Buttigieg singing “Desire” at a wedding. It’s good to see Borg and the PN picking up steam for a change. Not only is it healthy for a democracy, but watching yet another Labour wipeout unfold across four weeks is just boring. Sure, it might be funny to watch an old man in a Toyota Starlet race against a Formula 1 driver. But four times in a row? Forget it. Let’s hope the remaining days of the campaign offer better performances and a worthy clash.

Mass meeting madness: Speaking of excitement: Mass meetings are back! I didn’t have time to fully savour the PL’s mass meeting I was covering on Friday, although I did help myself to a beer and some sandwiches. Luckily, our photographers in both PL and PN mass meetings are great at spotting the people and shots that capture the essence of such gatherings. Scroll through some of our favourite shots, brought to you by photographers James Bianchi and Daniel Tihn.

'The Drinker' (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

A sweet old lady doing her bit to stimulate the economy (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

Peter Agius after a full hour without posting on Facebook (Photo: Daniel Tihn/MaltaToday)

MEGA cringe (Photo: Daniel Tihn/MaltaToday)

The only PN bus which isn't bendy or on fire (Photo: Daniel Tihn/MaltaToday)

'Wait! This isn't the anti-Gozo rally' (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

MPs’ Exodus: On Friday’s edition of our playbook, we spoke about the growing number of MPs deciding to leave politics behind them. One day after that, yet another MP, this time Edward Zammit Lewis, joined the exodus. Indeed the first week of this campaign was very much marked by news of MPs not contesting the election, be it voluntarily or out of fear of “personal attacks endangering their party.” But maybe a clean slate and fresh blood is what Maltese politics needs. If that’s so, I say “go for it.” And while we’re starting over, let’s scrap the parties altogether shall we? And if we truly want change, let’s let Żaren tal-Ajkla take the lead for the next five years. He cannot possibly be any worse than the type of politicians we’re used to.

What's on Sunday: The Labour Party is holding a mass rally in Naxxar at 10:30am, while the PN will meet supporters at Bormla at 11am.