The recent internal election within the Partit Laburista (PL), which saw Alex Sciberras narrowly defeat Norma Agius Saliba by 14 votes to become the party’s president, has underscored a significant decline in Prime Minister Robert Abela’s support among the party’s grassroots. Sciberras won 364 votes, compared to Agius Saliba’s 350, in what was widely seen as a contest between Abela’s preferred candidate, Agius Saliba, and a more independent figure in Sciberras.
This result reflects not just a routine leadership election but a deeper signal of Abela losing support within the party’s delegate base. Many Labourites appear to be distancing themselves from Abela’s leadership, expressing a desire for more autonomy in party leadership decisions, as demonstrated by the election of Sciberras, who positioned himself as less tied to Abela’s political circle.
Further exacerbating Abela’s troubles, Ian Borg and Alex Agius Saliba were recently confirmed as the new deputy leaders of the Labour Party. Neither is viewed as particularly loyal to Abela, especially Agius Saliba, who has been seen as increasingly independent (ignoring Abela’s direction to support Metsola’s reappointment). Their appointments, alongside Sciberras’ victory, seal a shift in the internal power balance, with key leadership positions now occupied by figures who are not closely aligned with the prime minister.
Rather than signaling fragmentation, these developments point to a steady erosion of Abela’s influence. As the party’s grassroots delegates opt for leadership figures outside of his direct sphere of control, Abela faces an uphill battle to regain the trust and support of the broader Labour movement. This could have significant implications for his ability to maintain authority within both the party and the government.
