Labour unveils first 17 election candidates, blending incumbents with new faces

The Labour Party’s first group of candidates for the next general election consists of 17 candidates and a mix of old and new faces. 

In a statement on Thursday, the party said its national executive selected and approved a number of candidates after a “rigorous process” by the Candidate Commission led by notary Charles Mangion. 

This first group consists of 17 candidates and five new faces. 

The new candidates are Vania Agius Tabone on the 8th and 9th districts, James Grech and Martina Buhagiar on the 2nd and 3rd districts, and David Caruana, Lisa Cassar Shaw and Mariah Meli on the 9th and 10th districts. 

The government ministers who will be defending their parliamentary seats are Justice Minister Jonathan Attard (districts 4 and 12), Transport Minister Chris Bonett (districts 3 and 4), Culture Minister Owen Bonnici (districts 3 and 5), and Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon (districts 9 and 10).

Among the parliamentary secretaries are Keith Azzopardi Tanti (districts 1 and 8), Glenn Bedingfield (districts 1 and 2) and Andy Ellul (districts 3 and 4). 

Other candidates include Damian Spiteri (districts 10 and 12) and Lorna Borg Vassallo (districts 9 and 10).