Election 2026: A snapshot of parliamentary curiosities

NEW MPs

PL: Nigel Vella (D1), John Grech (D8)

There was little change in the PL’s elected line-up after the results of the election were out, with only two new candidates making it to parliament in the first round. This number may increase after casual elections take place in the coming days to fill seats vacated by candidates elected on two districts. Nigel Vella, with a home base in Hamrun, and John Grech, the party’s international secretary, were the only two to break the ceiling on their own steam.

PN: Michael Piccinino (D4), Conrad Borg Manche (D5-D10), Julian Borg (D6), Alex Perici Calascione (D9), Beppe Galea (D13), Frank Anthony Tabone (D13)

The PN has five new MPs, who managed to get elected on their own steam, and an additional one, who was elected on the strength of the proportionality mechanism. Michael Piccinino managed to secure the PN’s second seat on the 4 District, a feat last witnessed in 2008, while late entry Conrad Borg Manche managed to get elected on two districts. PN Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione made it to parliament from the 9 District but had no success on the 1 District.

COMEBACK KID

PL: Anthony Agius Decelis (D11)

Anthony Agius Decelis was the only candidate who returned back to parliament after having missed the boat in the 2022 general election. He was the second highest scoring PL candidate on the 11 District after Miriam Dalli, having obtained 2,330 first-count votes.

ELECTED ON TWO DISTRICTS

PL: Robert Abela (D2-D5), Clyde Caruana (D2-D8), Chris Fearne (D3-D4), Jonathan Attard (D4-D12), Miriam Dalli (D5-D11), Ian Borg (D6-D7), Michael Falzon (D9-D10), Clifton Grima (D9-D10)

Besides Robert Abela, the PL had seven other candidates who were elected on two districts, all of which were ministers in the outgoing Cabinet, apart from Chris Fearne. The latter had resigned from minister in 2024 after he was criminally charged in the Vitals hospitals corruption case along with several others, including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Fearne emerged as the Labour candidate with the highest number of votes on both the 3 and 4 districts. Clifton Grima and Michael Falzon remained the undisputed choices for Labour voters in the 9 and 10 districts

PN: Stephen Spiteri (D2-D3), Mark Anthony Sammut (D4-D10), Conrad Borg Manche (D5-D10), Adrian Delia (D7-D8), Rebekah Borg (D7-D11), Joe Giglio (D9-D10), Alex Borg (D12-D13)

Besides Alex Borg, the PN had six other candidates who were elected on two districts, including former leader Adrian Delia and first-time candidate Conrad Borg Manche, the former Labour mayor of Gżira. Stephen Spiteri remained the undisputed choice for Nationalist voters in the 2 and 3 districts.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS

District 1

PL: Keith Azzopardi Tanti (5,068 votes)

PN: Darren Carabott (4,923 votes)

District 2

The presence of Robert Abela on the Labour ticket skews the first-count results since most votes go to him. The second-count result is thus also given for the Labour champion other than the prime minister.

PL: Robert Abela (11,839 votes); Clyde Caruana (827 votes – 4,215 votes)

PN: Stephen Spiteri (5,470 votes)

District 3

PL: Chris Fearne (3,341 votes)

PN: Stephen Spiteri (2,887 votes)

District 4

PL: Chris Fearne (3,750 votes)

PN: Mark Anthony Sammut (3,849 votes)

District 5

The presence of Robert Abela on the Labour ticket skews the first-count results since most votes go to him. The second-count result is thus also given for the Labour champion other than the prime minister.

PL: Robert Abela (9,843 votes); Omar Farrugia (2,028 votes – 3,768 votes)

PN: Toni Bezzina (2,767 votes)

District 6

PL: Ian Borg (4,588 votes)

PN: Jerome Caruana Cilia (5,119 votes)

District 7

PL: Ian Borg (5,520 votes)

PN: Adrian Delia (4,270 votes)

District 8

PL: Clyde Caruana (4,948 votes)

PN: Adrian Delia (6,718 votes)

District 9

PL: Clifton Grima (3,699 votes)

PN: Joe Giglio (2,819 votes)

District 10

PL: Michael Falzon (2,307 votes)

PN: Joe Giglio (2,611 votes)

District 11

PL: Miriam Dalli (3,827 votes)

PN: Ivan Bartolo (3,277 votes)

District 12

The presence of Alex Borg on the Nationalist ticket skews the first-count results since most votes go to him. The second-count result is thus also given for the Nationalist champion other than the PN leader.

PL: Jonathan Attard (2,885 votes)

PN: Alex Borg (9,614 votes); Ivan Castillo (597 votes – 2,976 votes)

District 13

The presence of Alex Borg on the Nationalist ticket skews the first-count results since most votes go to him. The second-count result is thus also given for the Nationalist champion other than the PN leader.

PL: Clint Camilleri (6,020 votes)

PN: Alex Borg (12,211 votes); Frank-Anthony Tabone (757 votes – 3,473 votes)