Ritratt: UnsplashA new political movement, Partit Malta Progressiva (PMP), is preparing to challenge Malta’s established two-party system. The PMP, which describes itself as a progressive, centre-left liberal party, intends to challenge the long-held dominance of the Labour Party (PL) and the Nationalist Party (PN).
The party’s official launch is scheduled for January, after months of preparation, which included meetings with possible supporters and the draughting of its laws.
Members of the party come from a variety of political backgrounds, including former Labour and Green party officials. According to insiders, the PMP wants to channel voters’ dissatisfaction with both big parties.
A bold vision for Malta’s political landscape
“Our vision is diverse—red, dark red, green, orange, yellow, and pale blue,” said a party source, indicating the PMP’s broad ideological background.
Unlike previous small-party efforts that have struggled to make an electoral effect, PMP seeks to distinguish itself as a serious alternative.
Supporters have compared the party’s objectives to the emergence of French President Emmanuel Macron. In 2017, Macron’s centrist movement upended France’s established political order and won the presidency. Similarly, PMP seeks to attract voters who are dissatisfied with the PL and PN.
Sources within the party hint at a possible dual leadership system but refuse to name particular contenders. PMP wants to run in all electoral districts in the upcoming general election, which is slated to take place in April 2027.
The party is said to support workers’ rights, social justice, decent governance, human rights, environmental preservation, and reproductive rights.
Recent electoral trends demonstrate the growing dissatisfaction with Malta’s two-party system. In the 2022 general election, over 63,000 voters abstained from or invalidated their ballots, with an additional 9,000 supporting third-party or independent candidates.
This pattern persisted during the 2024 European Parliament elections, when independent candidates or smaller parties received over 33,000 votes, but 110,000 voters chose not to participate.
“After 11 years of Labour rule, people are frustrated. Meanwhile, many people continue to find the Nationalist Party overly conservative,” according to a PMP source. The party sees a chance to catch the growing number of people who want change but are hesitant to support either major party.
A systemic challenge for small parties
Malta’s election process presents major hurdles for tiny parties. The single transferable vote (STV) system in multi-member districts, combined with constitutional provisions for proportional representation, has traditionally favoured PL and PN.
To win a parliamentary seat, candidates must receive at least 16.7% of the district vote, which has proven impossible for most third-party candidates.
Civil society organisations have long advocated for election reform to remedy the imbalance. One such group, il-Kollettiv, is presently asking parliament to reduce the election threshold, claiming that the current system excludes alternative voices and ignores shifts in voter preferences.
The PMP’s formation is not the sole indication of political change. Former Greens leader Arnold Cassola, who had strong support as an independent candidate in the 2024 European Parliament elections, is apparently mulling another run.
While Malta’s political system continues to favour the two dominant parties, rising voter discontent may open the door for new movements to challenge the existing quo.
